Trump Applauds Artemis II Crew in Live Call, Celebrates Historic Return to Lunar Orbit After Decades
US President praises astronauts for record-setting Moon flyby as NASA’s Artemis II mission pushes human spaceflight beyond past limits
US, Apr 07 : US President Donald Trump held a surprise live interaction with astronauts aboard Artemis II, applauding their milestone achievement as they completed a historic journey around the Moon.
Addressing the four member crew, Trump commended their efforts, calling the mission a defining moment for space exploration and national pride. He highlighted the significance of the achievement, noting that humans are once again orbiting the Moon after more than five decades, while also setting a new distance record from Earth.
The President also shared his admiration on Truth Social, describing the astronauts as courageous and encouraging the public to witness the rare moment of live communication with space travelers.
During the interaction, Trump engaged directly with the crew, acknowledging each astronaut and recognising the contributions of the NASA team behind the mission. He showed particular interest in their experience during the communication blackout on the Moon’s far side a critical phase when contact with Earth is temporarily lost.
Pilot Victor Glover reflected on the moment, saying he stayed focused on mission tasks while taking time for personal reflection. Commander Reid Wiseman described the journey as extraordinary, revealing that the crew witnessed lunar views never previously recorded, along with a rare solar eclipse from space.
The astronauts also expressed optimism about the future of human space exploration, including ambitions of expanding missions beyond the Moon toward Mars, signaling a long-term vision of multi-planetary presence.
Before concluding the call, Trump announced plans to host the crew at the White House after their return, offering a salute on behalf of the nation in recognition of their achievement.
The Artemis II mission, carried out using NASA’s Orion spacecraft, represents the first crewed lunar flyby since the Apollo era. The mission aims to advance scientific understanding of the Moon by capturing high-resolution imagery and collecting critical data on its surface and environment.
Having successfully completed their journey around the Moon, the astronauts are now on their return path to Earth after reaching a record distance of over 252,000 miles, marking humanity’s farthest venture into space in more than half a century.
