Artemis II Crew to Receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor for Historic Lunar Mission
August 22, 2026
The four astronauts who flew NASA’s Artemis II mission around the Moon are set to receive one of the highest honors awarded for achievements in space exploration.
U.S. President Donald Trump will present the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the Artemis II crew during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Friday, August 28, according to NASA. The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT.
The planned recognition comes after Artemis II completed a landmark crewed journey around the Moon, representing a major milestone in NASA’s effort to establish a sustained human presence around the lunar environment.
Four Astronauts Honored
The Artemis II crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
NASA says the crew traveled approximately 252,756 miles from Earth during the mission, setting a record for the greatest distance humans have traveled in space. The mission also marked the first crewed flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
Their journey was designed to test Orion and other systems required for future crewed lunar missions while providing astronauts with the opportunity to observe the Moon from close range.
Major Step in NASA’s Artemis Program
Artemis II followed the uncrewed Artemis I mission, which tested the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft in 2022. The successful crewed flight represented another major stage in NASA’s long-term lunar exploration strategy.
The Artemis campaign is designed to develop the technology, infrastructure and operational experience needed for future lunar exploration and eventually human missions farther into space.
NASA says Artemis III is planned for 2027 and will conduct important demonstrations in Earth orbit. Artemis IV is currently targeted as the first planned crewed lunar landing mission of the current campaign, with NASA targeting 2028.
Mission Reached Beyond Previous Human Distance Record
One of the most notable achievements of Artemis II was the distance reached by its crew. The astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans had previously gone.
During their lunar journey, the crew also observed the lunar surface and experienced a mission designed to test systems and procedures that will be important for future exploration.
NASA has described Artemis II as a critical step toward returning humans to the Moon and preparing for more ambitious missions.
Medal Recognizes Historic Achievement
The Congressional Space Medal of Honor is reserved for exceptional achievements in human space exploration. The upcoming presentation will place the Artemis II astronauts among a distinguished group of space pioneers who have previously received the honor.
The ceremony at Johnson Space Center will therefore serve not only as recognition for the four crew members but also as a celebration of a significant chapter in the United States’ renewed lunar exploration program.
The Artemis II mission has already received international attention because of Jeremy Hansen’s participation as the first Canadian astronaut to travel around the Moon. The mission also demonstrated the international dimension of NASA’s broader Artemis effort.
Looking Toward the Moon and Beyond
NASA’s Artemis program extends beyond a single lunar flight. The agency aims to use the experience gained through the missions to support longer-term exploration of the Moon and eventually Mars.
NASA describes the Moon as an important destination for scientific research and as a testing ground for technologies and operations needed for deeper human exploration. The agency also plans to develop the Gateway lunar space station as part of its broader exploration architecture.
The August 28 ceremony will give the Artemis II crew formal recognition for helping open this new phase of human lunar exploration.
