Artemis II Astronauts Make Historic Moon Call to Space Station

The Artemis II crew sets a new distance record for human spaceflight during their lunar flyby mission.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:36pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of brown, ochre, and deep blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the advanced communications and structural order of the Artemis II mission's journey to the moon.The Artemis II mission's historic lunar journey and long-distance call to the International Space Station represent a new era of connectivity and exploration in space.San Diego Today

The Artemis II astronauts, who have traveled farther than any other human in history, made a long-distance call to the crew of the International Space Station during their trip around the moon. The two-way communication between the Artemis II crew and the space station marked a joyous reunion for astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir, who previously worked together on the ISS. The Artemis II crew also named a moon crater 'Carroll' as a tribute to the late wife of their commander, Reid Wiseman.

Why it matters

The successful Artemis II mission, which set a new distance record for human spaceflight, is a critical step towards NASA's ambitious goal of returning astronauts to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis program. The ability for the Artemis II crew to communicate with the space station while in lunar orbit demonstrates the technological capabilities that will be required for future long-duration missions to the moon.

The details

During the Artemis II mission, the crew traveled to a maximum distance of 252,752 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. As the Artemis II spacecraft neared the moon, mission control in Houston arranged a video call between the four lunar travelers and the three NASA astronauts and one French astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station. The highlight of the call was the Artemis II crew naming a moon crater 'Carroll' in honor of Reid Wiseman's late wife.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 3, 2026.
  • The crew reached their maximum distance from Earth on April 6, 2026.
  • The video call with the International Space Station took place on April 7, 2026.
  • The Artemis II spacecraft is scheduled to splashdown off the coast of San Diego on April 14, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who led the crew in naming a moon crater after his late wife.

Christina Koch

An Artemis II astronaut who previously worked with Jessica Meir on the International Space Station.

Jessica Meir

A NASA astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station, who reunited with her former colleague Christina Koch during the Artemis II mission.

Artemis II

The second mission in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface.

International Space Station

The orbiting laboratory where astronauts from various space agencies conduct research and experiments in microgravity.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The highlight: The four astronauts of the Artemis II mission named a moon crater 'Carroll' as a tribute to the late wife of commander Reid Wiseman.”

— NBCPhiladelphia, News Article

What’s next

The successful Artemis II mission sets the stage for next year's Artemis III, which will include a lunar lander docking demonstration in orbit around the Earth. Artemis IV is planned for 2028 and will attempt to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has not only set a new distance record for human spaceflight, but also demonstrated the technological capabilities required for future long-duration missions to the moon. The ability for the Artemis II crew to communicate with the International Space Station while in lunar orbit is a significant milestone that will inform the planning and execution of upcoming Artemis program missions.