Artemis II Crew Reflects on Historic Moon Mission

NASA astronauts and Canadian Space Agency astronaut share their experience of the 10-day journey to the moon and back.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:37am

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts of the Artemis II mission to the moon.The Artemis II crew's historic journey to the moon has ignited a renewed sense of wonder and possibility in the pursuit of deep space exploration.Houston Today

Less than a week after returning from their historic 10-day, 694,481-mile journey to the moon and back, the Artemis II crew - NASA astronauts commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen - appeared at a press conference in Houston to share their experiences and reflect on the mission.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission was the first crewed flight to the moon in over 50 years, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The crew's insights and reflections provide a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of this historic journey, which will inform future Artemis missions and the goal of establishing a permanent lunar presence.

The details

During the press conference, the crew members spoke fondly of their time aboard the Orion spacecraft, Integrity, and recalled how they came together as a team during the mission. They expressed a deep sense of camaraderie and shared the belief that they are now "bonded forever." The crew also discussed the technical aspects of the mission, with commander Reid Wiseman praising the performance of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System, stating that the vehicle is ready for the next Artemis mission.

  • The Artemis II mission took place over 10 days in April 2026.
  • The crew members appeared at a press conference on April 16, 2026, less than a week after returning from their journey.

The players

Reid Wiseman

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

Victor Glover

The pilot for the Artemis II mission, a NASA astronaut.

Christina Koch

A mission specialist for the Artemis II mission, a NASA astronaut.

Jeremy Hansen

The first Canadian to travel into deep space, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut.

Orion spacecraft

The spacecraft used for the Artemis II mission, named Integrity.

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What they’re saying

“What an amazing journey that was. First and foremost, Victor, Christina, Jeremy, just thank you. This was an unbelievable adventure, and it was made possible by this crew and the support of each other throughout the whole thing.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“We are bonded forever. I mean, that's the closest four humans can be and not be a family.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“I am here to tell the world: we launched as friends, and we came back as best friends.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“We did what we said we were going to do, and now we've got to step out and just face that reality.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II Pilot

“When my husband looked me in the eye on that video call and said, 'No, really, you've made a difference.' It brought tears to my eyes, and I said, that's all we ever wanted.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Mission Specialist

What’s next

The Artemis III mission is scheduled for 2027, and the Artemis II crew members expressed their excitement to contribute to the next phase of NASA's lunar exploration efforts, including the establishment of a moon base.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has reignited the public's enthusiasm for space exploration, with the crew's camaraderie and sense of accomplishment inspiring the next generation of space enthusiasts to pursue challenging goals and work together to push the boundaries of human achievement.