07.04.2026 08:42
With the Artemis 2 mission, humanity has crossed a historic threshold in lunar travel after 54 years. The four astronauts involved in the mission reached the farthest distance ever achieved in human history, traveling exactly 406,765 kilometers away from Earth. With this development, the record set during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970 was surpassed by a margin of 6,602 kilometers.
A critical success has been achieved in the Artemis II mission, which is NASA's first crewed journey around the Moon since 1972. According to a statement from NASA, the four astronauts involved in the Artemis II mission have reached the farthest distance ever achieved in human history, approximately 406,765 kilometers away from Earth. Thus, the previous record set during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970 has been broken by an additional 6,602 kilometers.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM NASA'S PRESIDENT
NASA President Jared Isaacman congratulated the astronauts who achieved this historic success as part of the Artemis II mission, stating, "This mission will be remembered as the moment when people began to believe again that America can achieve the nearly impossible and change the world."
TRUMP: YOU MADE HISTORY TODAY
U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with the four astronauts involved in the Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed journey around the Moon since 1972. During the approximately 12-minute conversation, Trump congratulated the astronauts for their courage and brilliance. Reminding them that the team broke the record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth, Trump said, "You made history today and made all of America incredibly proud." He also stated that the astronauts involved in the Artemis II mission, along with the entire NASA team that made the mission possible, "inspired the world."
"YOU ARE THE PIONEERS OF MODERN TIMES"
Trump emphasized that the Artemis II mission represents America's "return," stating, "The Artemis crew flew with the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built and launched. They traveled over a quarter of a million miles and broke the distance record set by the legendary Apollo 13. America is a pioneering nation that transcends borders." Noting that the four brave crew members of Artemis II are "the pioneers of modern times," Trump hinted at Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, saying, "Coincidentally, one of them is our neighbor. You know who that is, right? There is a special person, a neighbor of yours, and we love our neighbor." Trump emphasized that the Artemis II crew is serving a critical mission, stating, "Your mission is paving the way for America's return to the Moon's surface very soon."
ASTRONAUTS SHARED THEIR MOST INTERESTING EXPERIENCES
When Trump asked the team, "What is the most unforgettable part of this truly historic day?" mission commander Reid Wiseman replied, "We saw views that no human has ever seen before, not even during the Apollo missions." Wiseman noted that the biggest surprise of the day occurred when they saw Mars in the distance while watching a solar eclipse. Astronaut Christina Koch expressed that the most exciting moment was when they first saw Earth after passing around the Moon following a planned communication blackout. Koch said, "This really reminds us how special the place we have is and how important it is to lead in exploring deep space for our nation, rather than just being a follower." Astronaut Victor Glover emphasized that their time spent on the far side of the Moon was "quite beautiful," while Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen stated, "Canadians are very proud to be a part of this program."
TRUMP SAID HE WOULD INVITE THE TEAM TO THE WHITE HOUSE
At the end of the conversation, when there was a moment of silence, the Artemis II crew asked if the conversation was still ongoing. Trump's response that he was still on the phone led to some amusing moments. Trump stated that after the mission concludes, he would invite the Artemis II crew to the White House, saying, "I don't usually ask for signatures, but you deserve this."
THE HISTORIC MISSION STARTED ON APRIL 1
The Artemis II mission, which is NASA's first crewed journey around the Moon since 1972, officially began on April 1. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft with four astronauts was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 PM local time. It was reported that the rocket's stage separations were completed as planned and that the Orion spacecraft was successfully placed into orbit. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who are part of the historic flight lasting 10 days, will not land on the Moon's surface but will travel to previously unseen parts of the Moon, departing from Earth's orbit.