Cmdr. Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen will receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Aug. 28, according to NASA. Selected by President Donald Trump upon a recommendation from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the Artemis II crew earned the US space agency’s highest award following a record-breaking 10-day lunar flyby mission.
Artemis II Crew Breaks Distance Records
The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, sending the four astronauts 252,756 miles (406,771km) away from Earth as they swung past the lunar surface. According to NASA, that journey surpassed Apollo 13’s 1970 distance record of 248,655 miles, making the flight the farthest humans have ever traveled into deep space.
Reid Wiseman described the psychological weight of the voyage to reporters. “Before you launch, it feels like it’s the greatest dream on Earth,” Wiseman said. “And when you’re out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It’s a special thing to be a human, and it’s a special thing to be on planet Earth.”
Did You Know?
According to NASA records, only 30 astronauts have received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Past recipients include Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, and John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth.
Upcoming Medal Ceremony and White House History
The Johnson Space Center in Houston will host the upcoming medal ceremony at 11 a.m., with a live stream provided on the official NASA website, according to agency officials. The event follows a White House visit in April where President Trump hosted the crew four months prior to the scheduled honor.
During that April gathering at the White House, President Trump remarked to the astronauts regarding his own physical fitness at age 80, stating, according to White House accounts, “I would have had no trouble making it—I’m physically very, very good.”
Nasa Budget Battles and Legislative Pushback
The White House has embraced the Artemis II achievements despite proposing a 23% budget cut for NASA in the 2027 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, which includes a 46% reduction for space science initiatives, according to federal budget documents. In response, a House commerce, justice and science subcommittee led by the Republican party advanced an alternative budget proposal designed to maintain the science projects targeted for elimination.
Precedents for the Congressional Space Medal of Honor
Established to recognize astronauts who distinguish themselves through exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the nation’s space program, the medal has previously been awarded to crews of the Apollo I fire, as well as the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters. The last recipients before the Artemis II crew were Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken, who flew the first commercial spacecraft into orbit in 2020 and accepted the medal in 2023 during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the members of the Artemis II crew?
The crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, according to NASA.
When is the Congressional Space Medal of Honor ceremony?
NASA scheduled the ceremony for Aug. 28 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, starting at 11 a.m. with a live stream available at www.nasa.gov/live.
What distance record did Artemis II break?
The Artemis II crew reached 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles set in 1970.
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