Astronaut's Daughter Shares Heartwarming Tribute as Father Nears Moon

Maya Glover's dance video celebrating her dad's Artemis II mission goes viral

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:22pm

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An abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and oranges, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conveying the complex forces and concepts of space travel without using any text or symbols.A daughter's dance of joy captures the human spirit behind the historic Artemis II mission to the moon.San Diego Today

Astronaut Victor Glover's daughter Maya recently shared a heartwarming tribute video to her father as he pilots the Artemis II mission halfway to the moon. The clip of Maya unzipping her hoodie to reveal a t-shirt with her dad's image and dancing with a huge smile has gone viral, garnering over 2 million reactions on social media.

Why it matters

Glover's mission is a significant milestone in the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface. Maya's tribute highlights the personal and emotional side of space exploration, connecting the public to the astronauts' families and the human stories behind these historic missions.

The details

In the video, Maya Glover is seen unzipping her hoodie to reveal a t-shirt with her father's image, then dancing joyfully. The clip has been widely shared on social media, with accounts like Instagram, Walmart, and Starbucks reacting to the heartwarming display. Earlier this week, Glover shared messages about the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beauty of God's creation as the Artemis II crew approached the moon.

  • On April 10, 2026, Maya Glover posted the tribute video on social media.
  • The Artemis II mission is currently halfway to the moon as of April 14, 2026.

The players

Victor Glover

An American astronaut currently piloting the Artemis II mission to the moon.

Maya Glover

The daughter of astronaut Victor Glover, who shared a viral tribute video celebrating her father's mission.

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What they’re saying

“When your dad successfully pilots Artemis II halfway to the moon... & u forget the dance”

— Maya Glover

“First daughter of the moon”

— Starbucks

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is scheduled to return to Earth on Friday, with their Orion spacecraft expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego around 8:06 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

Maya Glover's heartwarming tribute to her father's historic moon mission highlights the human stories and personal connections behind space exploration, helping to bring these landmark events to life for the public and fostering a sense of shared excitement and pride.