Artemis II Astronaut Moved to Tears by Chaplain's Cross After Moon Mission

Commander Reid Wiseman shares emotional moment after historic lunar voyage.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:11pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly structured abstract painting in muted earth tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conveying the awe and wonder of space exploration through a non-literal, conceptual visual representation.The profound emotional and spiritual impact of space travel, as an astronaut's encounter with a chaplain's cross reveals the transformative power of venturing beyond Earth's atmosphere.San Diego Today

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman opened up about a powerful moment he experienced after returning to Earth from the historic mission to circle the moon. Wiseman, who is not particularly religious, said he broke down in tears when he saw the Navy chaplain's cross upon being brought aboard a U.S. Navy ship for medical evaluation, unable to fully process the profound experience of the mission.

Why it matters

Wiseman's emotional reaction highlights the profound psychological and spiritual impact that space exploration can have on astronauts, even those who do not consider themselves religious. His comments provide a rare glimpse into the inner experience of those who venture beyond Earth's atmosphere.

The details

After the Artemis II crew, which included Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, safely splashed down off the coast of San Diego on April 10, they were taken to a U.S. Navy ship. It was at this moment that Wiseman asked to visit with the ship's chaplain, saying 'I'm not really a religious person, but there was just no other avenue for me to explain anything or to experience anything, so I just asked for the Navy chaplain to come visit us for a minute.' Wiseman said that when he saw the cross on the chaplain's collar, he 'just broke down in tears,' unable to fully process the profound experience of the mission.

  • The Artemis II crew splashed down off the coast of San Diego on April 10, 2026.
  • Wiseman made his comments during a NASA press conference in Houston, Texas.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who opened up about his emotional reaction to seeing the Navy chaplain's cross after returning to Earth from the historic lunar voyage.

Victor Glover

One of the Artemis II astronauts who accompanied Wiseman on the mission to circle the moon.

Christina Koch

One of the Artemis II astronauts who accompanied Wiseman on the mission to circle the moon.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian Space Agency astronaut who was part of the Artemis II crew that circled the moon.

Navy Chaplain

The chaplain aboard the U.S. Navy ship that the Artemis II crew was brought to for medical evaluation, whose cross prompted an emotional reaction from Wiseman.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm not really a religious person, but there was just no other avenue for me to explain anything or to experience anything, so I just asked for the Navy chaplain to come visit us for a minute.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“When that man walked in — I'd never met him before in my life, but I saw the cross on his collar, and I just broke down in tears. It's very hard to fully grasp what we just went through.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“The sun eclipsed behind the moon. I turned to Victor and I said I don't think humanity has evolved to the point of being able to comprehend what we are looking at right now, because it was otherworldly and it was amazing.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“The only thing I will add is I am a religious person, but everything else is the same.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will continue to participate in debriefings and media events to share their experiences from the historic mission, providing further insights into the psychological and spiritual impact of space exploration.

The takeaway

Wiseman's emotional reaction to the Navy chaplain's cross underscores the profound and transformative nature of space travel, even for those who do not consider themselves particularly religious. His comments offer a rare glimpse into the inner experiences of astronauts and the ways in which venturing beyond Earth's atmosphere can profoundly impact one's perspective and sense of the divine.