Trump to honor Artemis II astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history
President Donald Trump plans to award the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, which is carrying humans further from Earth than anyone in history. The recognition marks a significant moment for NASA's renewed push towards deep space exploration, coming as the mission conducts a lunar flyby that pushes the boundaries of crewed spaceflight and lays groundwork for future travel beyond the Moon.
During the flyby, the Artemis II crew is set to surpass the distance record held by Apollo 13, becoming the farthest humans have ever travelled from Earth. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick has described the mission as a crucial step towards eventual interplanetary journeys, with the agency aiming to establish a permanent lunar base by 2028.
- Trump to award Artemis II crew the Congressional Space Medal of Honor
- Crew will surpass Apollo 13's record for farthest distance from Earth
- Mission seen as key step towards a permanent lunar base by 2028
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Trump plans to award the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission, a crewed flight that loops around the Moon without landing. The mission is significant because it is the first time astronauts have flown this far since the Apollo era, and it is a key test flight ahead of a planned crewed Moon landing.
During its journey, the crew is expected to travel further from Earth than any humans before them, overtaking a distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA sees Artemis II as an important step towards its broader goal of returning astronauts to the lunar surface and eventually supporting longer-term exploration beyond the Moon, including a possible permanent base there.
The medal ceremony reflects renewed political and public attention on NASA's space programme, with the presidency taking an active role in marking milestones in the agency's exploration efforts.
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