Artemis II Astronauts Make Historic Call to Space Station from Moon

Crew recounts awe-inspiring views and scientific discoveries during lunar flyby

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:20pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and oranges, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spiral patterns, conceptually representing the Artemis II spacecraft's journey to the moon and back, and the scientific discoveries made during the mission.The Artemis II mission's historic lunar flyby and communication with the International Space Station represent a significant step forward in humanity's return to the moon.San Diego Today

The Artemis II astronauts made history on Tuesday by calling the crew of the International Space Station hundreds of thousands of miles away as they headed home from their successful lunar flyby. This marked the first time a moonship has ever communicated directly with another spacecraft in orbit. The astronauts shared their awe-inspiring experiences of seeing Earth from the moon and described witnessing mysterious flashes of light on the lunar surface.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents the first crewed flight around the moon since the Apollo era, paving the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the lunar surface. The direct communication between the Artemis II spacecraft and the space station is a significant milestone in space exploration, demonstrating new capabilities for coordination and collaboration between spacecraft in deep space.

The details

During the radio call, Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir - who had previously conducted the first all-female spacewalk together - shared their experiences and observations from the lunar flyby. The astronauts described being awestruck by the stunning views of Earth and the vast blackness of space surrounding it. They also recounted witnessing mysterious flashes of light on the lunar surface, which may have been caused by micrometeoroid impacts coinciding with a total solar eclipse. Mission Control is still analyzing the data to determine the exact nature of these light flashes.

  • The Artemis II crew made the historic radio call to the International Space Station on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • The Artemis II spacecraft is expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego, California on Friday, April 11, 2026, wrapping up the nearly 10-day test flight.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, which is the first crewed flight around the moon since the Apollo era.

Christina Koch

An Artemis II astronaut who previously conducted the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir aboard the International Space Station.

Jessica Meir

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station who previously conducted the first all-female spacewalk with Christina Koch.

Kelsey Young

The lead lunar scientist at NASA's Mission Control, who is overseeing the analysis of data and observations from the Artemis II mission.

Jared Isaacman

The NASA Administrator, who congratulated the Artemis II crew on their successful lunar flyby and discussed plans for 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 spacecraft is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego, California on Friday, April 11, 2026, marking the end of the nearly 10-day test flight. The recovery ship USS John P. Murtha has left port to reach the target zone. NASA is also preparing for the next Artemis mission, Artemis III, which will involve a lunar lander docking demonstration in orbit around Earth in 2027, followed by Artemis IV in 2028 that will attempt to land astronauts near the lunar south pole.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has not only captured the public's imagination with its awe-inspiring views of Earth from the moon, but it has also yielded valuable scientific data and insights that will inform future lunar exploration efforts. The historic radio call between the Artemis II crew and the International Space Station demonstrates the growing capabilities and coordination of space agencies around the world as they work towards returning humans to the lunar surface.