US President Donald Trump praised the astronauts of Artemis II following their successful lunar flyby, describing the crew as “modern-day pioneers” who made the nation proud.
In a live communication with the crew, Trump congratulated astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen, commending their achievement as a milestone in space exploration.
“Today you’ve made history and made all of America really proud,” Trump said, adding that the United States would continue to lead in space exploration.
During the exchange, the astronauts shared highlights from their journey around the moon. Wiseman described the experience of viewing familiar lunar landmarks from a completely new perspective, noting that the crew observed areas of the moon never before seen by humans.
He also highlighted rare moments from the flyby, including witnessing a solar eclipse from lunar orbit and spotting Mars in the distance. The crew expressed excitement about the future of human space exploration, with Wiseman stating that humanity is moving closer to becoming a “two-planet species.”
Hansen also thanked NASA for its partnership with the Canadian Space Agency, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in advancing space missions.
Trump concluded the conversation by saying he looks forward to welcoming the astronauts to the White House and jokingly asking for their autographs, adding that it is something he rarely does but felt was well deserved.
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