Eagles' Jalen Hurts welcomes back Artemis II after successful mission

Quarterback celebrates historic lunar mission and invites astronauts to visit Philadelphia

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:39pm

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A bold, abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals in earthy tones, visualizing the complex forces and concepts of the Artemis II lunar mission.Jalen Hurts' message celebrating the historic Artemis II mission reflects how scientific achievements can transcend traditional boundaries and capture diverse audiences.Philadelphia Today

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts recorded a video message welcoming the Artemis II astronauts back to Earth after their successful 10-day journey around the Moon. Hurts praised the crew, including astronaut Christina Koch, as an 'inspiration' and invited them to visit Philadelphia soon.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marked a major milestone in NASA's renewed push for deep space exploration, completing the first human lunar mission in over 50 years. Hurts' message bridged the worlds of sports and science, showing how the historic achievement captured attention across industries.

The details

The Artemis II crew, including Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, landed safely in the Pacific Ocean after reaching speeds of Mach 33 during reentry. Their Orion capsule, named Integrity, set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans in space at 252,756 miles.

  • Artemis II completed its 10-day journey around the Moon and safely returned to Earth on April 11, 2026 at 8:07 p.m. ET.
  • Jalen Hurts recorded his congratulatory message shortly after the crew's splashdown.

The players

Jalen Hurts

The quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles who recorded a video message welcoming the Artemis II astronauts back to Earth.

Christina Koch

One of the mission specialists on the Artemis II crew, which completed the first human lunar mission in over 50 years.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, which set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans in space.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II mission, which reached speeds of Mach 33 during reentry.

Jeremy Hansen

The Canadian astronaut who was part of the Artemis II crew that completed the historic lunar mission.

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What they’re saying

“See you soon here in Philly.”

— Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is expected to visit Philadelphia in the coming weeks to meet with Jalen Hurts and the Eagles organization.

The takeaway

Jalen Hurts' message celebrating the Artemis II mission showcases how historic scientific achievements can transcend traditional boundaries and capture the attention of diverse audiences, from sports fans to space enthusiasts.