"It was quite something": President Trump congratulates NASA and Artemis II crew on successful launch

From the White House on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated NASA and the Artemis II crew following their triumphant launch. The 32-story Space Launch System (SLS) rocket ascended from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, to the roar of thousands gathered for the historic milestone. Currently, the crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—is spending 24 hours in low Earth orbit to conduct system checks. Once cleared, they will fire the main engine for translunar injection, beginning their journey to the moon while NASA maintains constant communication.