Trump Congratulates Artemis II Crew on Historic Moon Flyby, Points to Mars as Next Destination
President Donald Trump told the crew of the Artemis II mission that their next journey would take them to Mars, just hours after they successfully re-emerged from the dark side of the Moon. The call came following a groundbreaking six-hour flyby that saw NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, become the first humans in over half a century to witness the distant lunar hemisphere with the naked eye.
Historic Mission and Presidential Praise
Trump declared that the crew "really inspired the entire world" with their epic mission, noting that "Everyone's watching it. They find it incredible." He added, "I just watched you go to the back of the moon, and people haven't been there in a long time, we can say. But it's going to be more and more prevalent because we're going to be doing a lot of traveling." Outlining ambitious plans for space exploration, the president stated, "Then you're ultimately going to do the whole big trip to Mars - and that's going to be very exciting."
The astronauts completed their mission without any real-time guidance from Mission Control, relying entirely on onboard systems before contact was restored approximately 40 minutes later when their spacecraft reappeared. As part of this journey, they set a new record by traveling 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous mark set by Apollo 13 in 1970.
Communication Restoration and Crew Reflections
After communication was restored on Monday night, President Trump called to congratulate the crew and inquired about their experience during the blackout period. Astronaut Victor Glover responded, "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. We were busy up here working really hard, and I must say, it was actually quite nice."
Trump emphasized that their work "paves the way for America's return to the lunar surface, very soon." He vowed, "We're going all out. We're doing everything we can. We'll plant our flag once again - and this time we won't just leave footprints, we'll establish a presence on the moon and we'll push onto Mars. It'll be very exciting. I'm waiting for that so much." This commitment echoes his inauguration speech pledge to plant an American flag on Mars, where he declared that "ambition is the lifeblood of a great nation."
Diverging Views on Space Priorities
The president's Mars focus contrasts with some perspectives within the space community. Then-ally Elon Musk, seen giving Trump a thumbs up during the speech, had long advocated for NASA to prioritize Mars over lunar missions, even writing on social media that "the moon is a distraction." However, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told the Daily Mail last month that returning to the Moon is crucial to reaffirm American capabilities.
Isaacman stated, "We owe it to every one of the pioneers during the 1960s, every one of the astronauts that what they did was just the start and not the end of a great journey." He detailed plans to build a moon base and pursue "big, bold endeavors" in space, arguing there is "no question" the US is in a new space race with China, whose "very robust" program should not be underestimated.
Lunar Observations and Mission Details
During the flyby, Glover shared vivid observations of the Moon's far side, describing "an island of terrain completely surrounded by darkness" and noting features like a "very nice double crater" resembling a snowman. He highlighted striking contrasts in impact basins, comparing them to drying wet spots, and observed surface features that appeared like mountain peaks "dusted with snow" or chalk.
The mission shattered the Apollo 13 distance record, with Trump celebrating this achievement: "We have a lot of things to be proud of lately, but there's nothing like what you're doing - circling around the moon for the first time in more than a half a century and breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance from Planet Earth." He praised the crew as "modern-day pioneers" and declared "America is back and America is back in many ways stronger than ever before."
Administrator's Perspective and Future Steps
NASA Administrator Isaacman congratulated the team on social media, stating, "On the far side of the Moon, 252,756 miles away, Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy have now traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history and now begin their journey home." He reflected, "Before they left, they said they hoped this mission would be forgotten, but it will be remembered as the moment people started to believe that America can once again do the near-impossible and change the world." Isaacman noted that the mission continues until the crew's scheduled splashdown in the Pacific on Friday.
