NASA honors Artemis II crew with Congressional Space Medal of Honor

NASA’s Artemis II crew received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump on Aug. 28, 2026. The award was presented to astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman for their service during the first crewed lunar‑orbit mission under the Artemis program.

Artemis II launched in 2025 and carried the crew on a 10‑day trip around the Moon, testing new systems and life‑support equipment needed for future crewed landings. The mission followed the unmanned Artemis I flight that orbited the Moon in 2022. NASA selected the four astronauts after years of rigorous training, including simulations of lunar surface operations and zero‑g flight experience. The crew’s successful completion of the mission marked a critical milestone toward returning humans to the Moon by the end of the decade.

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor is the highest civilian award for spaceflight achievements, established in 2001. It recognizes extraordinary bravery or achievement in space. Awarding it to the Artemis II crew underscores the mission’s importance and celebrates the international partnership that made the flight possible. The astronauts thanked the President and NASA officials, noting that the honor motivates future generations of space explorers. NASA officials said the award will help raise public awareness of the Artemis program’s progress.

Looking ahead, the Artemis II crew will return to Earth for debriefing and public outreach. NASA plans to launch Artemis III later in 2026, carrying the first woman and next man to walk on the Moon. The Congressional Space Medal of Honor will likely be presented to that crew as well, continuing the tradition of recognizing those who push human spaceflight forward. The award signals strong congressional support for NASA’s lunar ambitions and sets a precedent for future missions to Mars and beyond.