Artemis II Astronauts Make Historic Call to Space Station from Moon

Crew members reconnect with friends aboard the International Space Station as they head home from lunar flyby.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:50pm

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A vibrant abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals in earthy tones of blue, green, and gold, conceptually representing the Artemis II mission's journey to the moon and back.The Artemis II mission's historic lunar flyby and connection to the International Space Station symbolize the growing unity and scientific discoveries of humanity's return to the moon.San Diego Today

The Artemis II astronauts made history on Tuesday by calling their friends aboard the International Space Station hundreds of thousands of miles away as they headed home from the moon. It was the first moonship-to-spaceship radio linkup ever, with the crew members sharing their awe-inspiring experiences from the lunar flyby.

Why it matters

This mission marks the first time humans have traveled to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The ability for the Artemis II crew to communicate directly with the International Space Station represents a major milestone in deep space exploration and demonstrates the growing connectivity between different space operations.

The details

During the call, Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and crew members Christina Koch and Jessica Meir shared their perspectives on the breathtaking views of Earth and the lunar surface. Koch described being awestruck by the 'blackness' of space surrounding the planet, emphasizing the preciousness of life on Earth. The astronauts also reported witnessing a cascade of pinpricks of light on the lunar surface, which may have been a meteor shower or micrometeoroid impacts coinciding with a total solar eclipse.

  • The Artemis II crew made the historic call to the International Space Station on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • The Artemis II mission is a nearly 10-day test flight, with the crew aiming for a Friday splashdown off the San Diego coast.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, which is the first crewed flight of NASA's new Artemis program to return humans to the moon.

Christina Koch

An Artemis II astronaut who previously teamed up with Jessica Meir for the world's first all-female spacewalk outside the International Space Station in 2019.

Jessica Meir

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station who reunited with her 'astro-sister' Christina Koch during the Artemis II mission's long-distance call.

Kelsey Young

The lead lunar scientist at NASA's Mission Control, who debriefed the Artemis II astronauts on their observations of potential meteor activity on the lunar surface.

Jared Isaacman

The NASA Administrator who congratulated the Artemis II crew on their successful lunar flyby and noted that some minor issues, such as with the spacecraft's toilet, would need to be addressed ahead of future Artemis missions.

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What they’re saying

“We have been waiting for this like you can't imagine.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“I'm so happy that we are back in space together, even if we are a few miles apart.”

— Jessica Meir, International Space Station Astronaut

“It just made it even more special. It truly emphasized how alike we are, how the same thing keeps every single person on planet Earth alive. The specialness and preciousness of that really is emphasized.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is aiming for a Friday splashdown off the San Diego coast, which will wrap up the nearly 10-day test flight. This sets the stage for next year's Artemis III mission, a lunar lander docking demo in orbit around Earth, followed by Artemis IV in 2028 with two astronauts attempting to land near the lunar south pole.

The takeaway

The historic call between the Artemis II crew and the International Space Station underscores the growing connectivity and collaboration in deep space exploration. As the Artemis program progresses, these types of cross-mission interactions will become increasingly common, fostering a new era of human lunar exploration.