Apollo Astronaut Sends Easter Message to Artemis II Crew

Charlie Duke, who walked on the moon in 1972, offers words of encouragement to the Artemis II astronauts.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:45pm

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As the world celebrated Easter, the Artemis II astronauts received a special message from Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke, who walked on the moon in 1972. Duke offered words of encouragement and inspiration to the Artemis II crew, which includes first-time space fliers.

Why it matters

The Artemis program represents NASA's return to the moon after a half-century hiatus. Duke's message connects the Artemis II crew to the legacy of the Apollo program, providing a sense of continuity and shared purpose in humanity's exploration of space.

The details

In his message, Duke referenced the Artemis II crew by name - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - and noted that he and John Young landed their lunar module, named Orion, on the moon in 1972 during the Apollo 16 mission. Duke's words of encouragement and support are seen as an important morale boost for the Artemis II astronauts as they prepare for their historic journey.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in late 2024.
  • Charlie Duke's message was delivered on April 5, 2026, which was Easter Sunday.

The players

Charlie Duke

An American astronaut who was the tenth and youngest person to walk on the moon, as part of the Apollo 16 mission in 1972.

Artemis II Crew

The four astronauts selected for NASA's Artemis II mission, which will be the first crewed Artemis flight around the Moon.

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What they’re saying

“Hello, Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. This is Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke. John Young and I landed on the moon in 1972 in a lunar module we named Orion.”

— Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in late 2024, marking the first crewed flight of the Artemis program and the first human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit since the final Apollo mission in 1972.

The takeaway

Charlie Duke's Easter message to the Artemis II crew serves as a powerful connection between the pioneering accomplishments of the Apollo program and the next generation of lunar explorers. This symbolic passing of the torch underscores the enduring legacy of human space exploration.