President Donald J. Trump spoke via satellite with the crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission, marking a historic moment as he became the first President in over fifty years to communicate with astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit. Artemis II signifies humanity’s return to the Moon’s vicinity for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, taking astronauts nearly 253,000 miles from Earth to conduct essential observations of the Moon’s far side, setting the stage for future explorations.
President Trump commended the crew on their pioneering mission.
- “Today, you’ve made history and made all of America really proud… There’s nothing like what you’re doing, circling around the Moon for the first time in more than half a century and breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance from planet Earth… You really are modern-day pioneers.” (Watch)
President Trump inquired about the crew’s experiences during the mission.
- Commander Reid Wiseman on the most unforgettable sights: “We saw sights… that no human has ever seen before — not even in Apollo.” (Watch)
- Pilot Victor Glover on the communication blackout while observing the Moon’s far side: “I said a little prayer, but then I had to keep rolling. I was actually recording scientific observations of the far side of the Moon. That is actually the time when we were the farthest from Earth and the closest to the Moon and so we were really able to make some of our most detailed observations of the far side of the Moon up close, so we were busy up here working really hard — and I must say, it was actually quite nice.” (Watch)
- Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen on differences between the Moon’s near and far sides: “The gravitational pull of the Earth has had a profound effect on the near side of the Moon, changing all those dark mares — those dark patches of the Moon you see from Earth — it’s very different on the far side.” (Watch)
- Mission Specialist Christina Koch on glimpsing Earth again after the blackout: “One of the biggest highlights was coming back from the far side of the Moon and having the first glimpses of 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.” (Watch)
President Trump acknowledged Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, emphasizing the mission’s global significance.
- “Well, I have to say, I spoke to a very special person, Wayne Gretzky, who I think you know — the Great One — and I spoke to your Prime Minister and many other friends I have in Canada. They are so proud of you, and you have a lot of courage.” (Watch)
President Trump extended an invitation to the Artemis II crew to visit the White House.
- “I look forward to having you in the Oval Office at the White House and we will celebrate your incredible achievements and triumphs. This is really big stuff; the whole world is talking about it and if you have the time, I will certainly find the time. I’ve been pretty busy also, as you know, but I will absolutely find the time and we’ll get together — and I’m going to be giving you a big salute on behalf of the American people and beyond.” (Watch)
