Key facts
- The Artemis II astronauts were awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
- President Donald Trump presented the award to the four-person crew.
- The ceremony took place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
- President Trump announced the establishment of a U.S. Space Academy.
- The Artemis II mission achieved a new distance record for humanity during its lunar flyby.
President Donald Trump presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the Artemis II astronauts, recognizing their recent lunar flyby. The ceremony, held at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, also saw Trump announce the creation of a U.S. Space Academy for the Space Force, NASA, and the commercial space sector.
Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen were honored for becoming the first humans to travel to the moon in over 50 years. Their April mission set a new distance record, coming within 4,067 miles of the lunar surface while testing the Orion capsule and NASA's new moon rocket.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the crew as "four intrepid space heroes" and "ambassadors to the stars." The Congressional Space Medal of Honor is a prestigious award, with only 30 astronauts having received it prior to this ceremony. Notable past recipients include Neil Armstrong, Alan Shepard, John Glenn, and Frank Borman. Most recently, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken received the medal in 2023.
During the event, Trump emphasized the importance of space exploration, stating "Space is the hot thing." He also reiterated his commitment to returning Americans to the moon before his term ends and reaching Mars shortly thereafter. The Artemis II mission is seen as paving the way for future lunar missions, including Artemis III and IV, with NASA aiming to establish a sustainable moon base near the lunar south pole.
As the ceremony concluded, the Artemis II astronauts presented President Trump with a custom flight jacket, fulfilling a promise made after their mission. Trump then contacted U.S. astronauts aboard the International Space Station to inform them of the new Space Academy.