Artemis II Astronaut Breaks Down After Seeing Chaplain's Cross

Commander Reid Wiseman shares emotional moment after historic moon mission

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:07pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in earthy tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conveying the awe-inspiring scale and mystery of space exploration without the use of any text or symbols.The profound spiritual and emotional impact of the Artemis II mission is captured in this abstract visualization, reflecting the astronauts' sense of wonder and their struggle to comprehend the 'otherworldly' experience of traveling to the moon.Houston Today

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman opened up about a powerful moment after he and his fellow astronauts returned from their historic mission circling the moon. Wiseman, who is not religious, said he broke down in tears when he saw the Navy chaplain's cross after splashing down, as he had no other way to process the profound experience. The crew, which included Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, landed safely back on Earth on April 10 after their mission.

Why it matters

Wiseman's emotional reaction highlights the profound impact of spaceflight, especially missions to the moon, and how even non-religious astronauts can find solace in spiritual rituals and symbols after experiencing the awe-inspiring wonder of space exploration. The Artemis II mission was a major milestone, paving the way for future crewed missions to the lunar surface.

The details

After splashing down off the coast of San Diego, the Artemis II crew was taken to a U.S. Navy ship for medical evaluation. It was then 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.' When the chaplain arrived, Wiseman said he '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.'

  • 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 on April 17, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who is not a religious person but was deeply moved by seeing the Navy chaplain's cross after returning to Earth.

Victor Glover

One of the Artemis II astronauts, who is a religious person.

Christina Koch

One of the Artemis II astronauts.

Jeremy Hansen

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

Navy Chaplain

The chaplain aboard the U.S. Navy ship where the Artemis II crew was taken after splashdown.

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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

A crater on the moon will be named in honor of Wiseman's late wife, which he described as 'the most beautiful thing I'd heard in my entire life.'

The takeaway

Wiseman's emotional reaction to seeing the Navy chaplain's cross after returning from the historic Artemis II mission underscores the profound spiritual and psychological impact of spaceflight, even for non-religious individuals. This moment highlights how space exploration can inspire awe and a sense of the divine, transcending traditional religious boundaries.