Trump Praises NASA's Artemis 2 Astronauts After Historic Moon Flyby

The Artemis 2 crew made history as the farthest-traveled humans ever, circling the moon for the first time in over 50 years.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:39am

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A bold, abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise spirals in earthy tones, conveying the structural order and complex forces of space exploration.The Artemis 2 mission's historic lunar flyby represents a major step forward in humanity's exploration of deep space, paving the way for future crewed missions to the moon and beyond.Houston Today

President Donald Trump congratulated the four Artemis 2 astronauts - commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen - after their historic flyby around the moon. The crew spent seven hours observing parts of the lunar surface never before seen by human eyes, breaking the record for the farthest distance from Earth. Trump praised the astronauts' courage and grit, hailing their mission as a major step towards establishing a permanent presence on the moon and exploring Mars.

Why it matters

The Artemis 2 mission marks a significant milestone in the renewed push for human exploration of the moon, paving the way for future crewed landings and the establishment of a permanent lunar base. This mission also highlights the growing international cooperation in space exploration, with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen participating alongside his NASA counterparts.

The details

The Artemis 2 crew spent 10 days on their mission, which began with a launch from Florida on April 1. During their time in lunar orbit, the astronauts observed parts of the moon that had never been seen by human eyes before. They experienced a 40-minute communications blackout while on the far side of the moon, but were able to regain contact and continue their observations.

  • The Artemis 2 mission launched from Florida on April 1, 2026.
  • The crew spent seven hours on April 6, 2026 observing the lunar surface during their historic flyby.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis 2 mission, a NASA astronaut.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis 2 mission, a NASA astronaut.

Christina Koch

A mission specialist on the Artemis 2 mission, a NASA astronaut.

Jeremy Hansen

A mission specialist on the Artemis 2 mission, an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency.

Jared Isaacman

The current NASA administrator, appointed by President Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Today, you made history and made all of America really proud, incredibly proud.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“We saw sights no human had ever seen before, not even Apollo, and that was amazing for us.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis 2 Mission Commander

“I think one of the biggest highlights was coming back from the far side of the moon and having the first glimpse of the planet Earth again after being out of communication for about 45 minutes. It really just reminds you what a special place we have and how important it is for our nation to lead and not follow in exploring deep space.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis 2 Mission Specialist

“On behalf of Canada, the space leadership you spoke of from America is truly extraordinary. A nation that leads like that and creates and sets big goals for humanity, that brings other countries along with it, is truly incredible.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Artemis 2 Mission Specialist

“We definitely have to fix some of the plumbing.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

What’s next

The Artemis 2 crew is scheduled to return to Earth in the coming days, where they will be welcomed at the White House by President Trump. Their successful mission paves the way for future Artemis program flights, including the planned Artemis 3 mission that will land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The Artemis 2 mission represents a major milestone in the renewed push for human exploration of the moon, demonstrating the United States' continued leadership in space and the growing international cooperation in this endeavor. The historic flyby and the astronauts' firsthand observations of the lunar surface have set the stage for future crewed missions that will establish a permanent presence on the moon and potentially lead to the exploration of Mars.