Artemis II astronauts receive America's highest space honor from President Trump

On August 28, the Artemis II crew was honored with America’s highest award for space exploration, called the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, presented by President Donald J. Trump. During the mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), flew farther from Earth than anyone in history. 

Here’s a look at the ceremony held in their honor and the medal they were awarded.

The mission commander, Reid Wiseman, led the crew on this journey around the Moon. He was first selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009. He has also commanded the NEEMO21 mission at the Aquarius Reef Habitat off Islamorada, Florida. Speaking on this occasion, he said, “It was the honor of my lifetime to fly on Integrity around the Moon with Victor, Christina, and Jeremy.”

“Having President Trump here at the agency’s Johnson Space Center to honor NASA and my crew underscores the significance of what our teams accomplished,” Wiseman shared during the ceremony. He added that he's looking forward to watching his crewmates carry this legacy forward on the next Artemis mission.

Victor Glover was responsible for flying Orion as he served as the pilot for Artemis II. "Piloting Orion for the first time in space was a profound honor, made possible because of the years of hard work, dedication, and expertise by countless individuals dedicating their time and talents to the mission," Glover said.

During the occasion, Victor Glover shared that this recognition goes to all those who helped make this mission possible and brought them back home safely. Victor was first selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013. Before this, he was the pilot for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He was also a part of Expedition 64.

This was not the first award dedicated to Christina Koch. Before this, she was awarded the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord in 2026 as she became the first woman to travel around the Moon during the mission. She said the public's response to the flight went beyond anything the crew expected.

"The response to our mission here on Earth was beyond anything we ever imagined and all we ever hoped for," Koch said. "We are grateful every time we hear from people who followed along with our journey. As team members on this shared mission, we accept this award to honor those who made it happen, from factory floors to clean rooms and mission control rooms."

Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, also flew as a mission specialist. This made him the first non-American to be part of an Artemis crew. "It is a privilege to receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor alongside my Artemis II crewmates," Hansen said.

He added that the mission reflects something bigger than just returning to the Moon. For Canada, he said, it's about "the pursuit of excellence and collaboration." He further added, “Artemis II showed what we can accomplish for humanity when we set ambitious goals and work together.”

During the ceremony, President Trump also signed an executive order that will create America's first-ever Space Academy. With this, he shared, those who graduate from this academy will serve the US Space Force, NASA, and the civilian flight industry. This commission will be led by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman. "We have some tremendous plans ahead," he added.