Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover Praises God, Reflects on 'Too Big' Mission

Astronaut describes profound gratitude and sense of unity with crew after historic lunar orbit flight.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:05pm

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A highly textured abstract painting in earthy tones of ochre, sienna, and indigo, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts of the Artemis II mission to the moon.The Artemis II mission's historic journey to the moon is captured in a bold, abstract visualization that evokes the profound spiritual and scientific dimensions of human spaceflight.Houston Today

Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover spoke publicly for the first time since the mission's successful return, using the opportunity to express deep gratitude to God and his crew mates. Glover and the other astronauts described the technical challenges and personal impact of traveling farther from Earth than any previous human mission.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marked a historic milestone, carrying the first woman and first Black astronaut to the moon. Glover's remarks highlight the profound human experience of the journey and the significance of representation in space exploration.

The details

During a press conference in Houston, Glover and his fellow Artemis II crew members discussed the mission's technical demands and the personal bonds formed during the journey. Glover said he felt compelled to publicly thank God for the experience, describing it as "too big to be in one body." Commander Reid Wiseman spoke about the unbreakable connection the crew now shares, while mission specialist Christina Koch reflected on the meaning of true teamwork. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen expressed gratitude for the support that enabled the historic flight.

  • The Artemis II crew returned safely to Earth on April 10, 2026.
  • The press conference took place on April 12, 2026, two days after the mission's splashdown.

The players

Victor Glover

Pilot of the Artemis II mission and the first Black astronaut assigned to a lunar mission.

Reid Wiseman

Commander of the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

Mission specialist on the Artemis II mission.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian Space Agency astronaut who was part of the Artemis II crew.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that organized and executed the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“I wanted to thank God in public. And I want to thank God again, because even bigger than my challenge trying to describe what we went through, the gratitude of seeing what we saw, doing what we did and being with who I was with… it's too big to just be in one body.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II Pilot

“We are bonded forever and no one down here is ever going to know what the four of us just went through. And it was the most special thing that will ever happen in my life.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“A crew is people, that is in it all the time, no matter what, that is willing to sacrifice silently for each other. A crew is inescapably, beautifully, dutifully linked.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Mission Specialist

“Gratitude for my family, gratitude for NASA, gratitude for the teams. I don't think people will really ever fully comprehend how well supported and trained we were.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Space Agency Astronaut

What’s next

NASA plans to hold a more extensive press conference with the Artemis II crew in the coming weeks to provide additional details about the mission and its significance.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has captured the public's imagination, not only for its historic crew composition but also for the profound human experience of venturing farther into space than ever before. The astronauts' reflections on the mission's spiritual and emotional impact underscore the transformative power of space exploration and the unity it can inspire.