Artemis II Mission Highlights: Key Crew Moments and Achievements

By Lauren Bair

*Published: April 11, 2026*

NASA's Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026, marking the first crewed orbital flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft under the Artemis program. The crew—commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen—conducted a nearly 10-day mission that reached a peak distance of approximately 252,756 miles from Earth, exceeding the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970 of 248,655 miles. The flight path looped around the Moon without landing, testing systems for future lunar missions.

Prior to launch, the astronauts shared personal moments with family members. Glover told each of his four daughters, "I love you." Koch and Hansen interacted with their loved ones, laughing during communications. Wiseman, who became a widower after his wife Carroll Taylor Wiseman died of cancer in 2020 at age 46, made heart hand gestures toward his daughters. The daughters had previously made "moon cupcakes" to mark his selection for the mission.

The mission proceeded with all major systems nominal, though the crew reported minor issues, including a burning smell from the toilet area early in the flight. Technicians confirmed no safety risks, and operations continued without interruption. The astronauts transmitted various updates, videos, and messages from orbit, highlighting crew dynamics and personal reflections. Below are five notable moments from the mission, drawn from NASA broadcasts and crew communications.

Crew Video Parodying an '80s Sitcom Intro

The Artemis II crew produced a lighthearted video edited to the theme song from the 1980s sitcom *Full House*. The clip featured each astronaut pausing from their tasks to smile directly at the camera, mimicking recurring characters in a family-oriented TV show. Commander Wiseman later described the production as involving scenes reminiscent of '80s sitcoms, noting that the crew found it amusing in orbit. The video's lyrics emphasized themes of connection and guidance: "Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there’s a heart, a hand to hold onto … When you’re lost out there and you’re all alone, a light is waiting to carry you home." The segment showcased the team's camaraderie during the high-stakes mission.

The Rise Plushie as Zero-Gravity Indicator

A baseball-sized plushie named Rise served as an informal fifth crew member and visual cue for weightlessness. Designed by second-grader Lucas Ye through a worldwide student contest, Rise drew inspiration from Apollo 8's famous "Earthrise" photograph taken during the 1968 lunar orbit mission. The toy floated freely to signal microgravity conditions for the astronauts and viewers on Earth. Commander Wiseman referred to Rise as a symbol representing collective participation in the mission, stating, "We always say that we’re going for all, and by all." The plushie appeared in multiple live streams, adding a relatable element to the technical proceedings.

Message on Love Before Lunar Far Side

Just prior to entering the period of no radio contact while passing the Moon's far side, pilot Victor Glover delivered a message emphasizing love and human connection. He referenced Christian teachings, noting Jesus' response to the greatest commandment: to love God fully and to love one's neighbor as oneself. Glover assured ground teams and the public that the crew would continue to feel support from Earth despite the communications blackout, concluding, "To all of you down on Earth and around Earth, we love you, from the moon." The transmission occurred as the spacecraft traveled beyond direct line-of-sight with Earth.

Lunar Crater Naming in Honor of Carroll Wiseman

On April 6, the crew honored Carroll Taylor Wiseman by proposing a name for a lunar crater visible from Earth. Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen announced the tribute, explaining, "We lost a loved one; her name was Carroll." He described the site as "a bright spot on the moon" and suggested calling it "Carroll." The moment, shared via NASA audio, highlighted the personal stakes for commander Reid Wiseman, whose wife had passed away six years earlier. The informal naming served as a memorial gesture during the mission's lunar proximity phase.

Reflections on Earth Unity Ahead of Easter

On April 4, one day before Easter Sunday, pilot Victor Glover shared observations from his orbital vantage point. He described Earth as a singular entity: "I can really see Earth as one thing. You’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe, in the cosmos … You are special in all of this emptiness … You have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together." Glover encouraged global unity, stating, "Remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we gotta get through this together." The comments aligned with the mission's theme of shared human endeavor.

Additional Mission Highlights

Several other elements from Artemis II gained attention:

• Glover's daughter Maya posted a viral video dancing in a T-shirt featuring her father's image in a spacesuit.
• Apollo-era astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13, sent a recorded message: "Welcome to my old neighborhood."
• The crew enjoyed Canadian maple cream cookies, provided for Hansen, during the far-side pass.
• Hidden "Easter eggs" in the cabin were dehydrated scrambled eggs, as Koch noted: "They were the dehydrated scrambled egg variety. But we’re all pretty happy with them."
• A jar of Nutella floated loose in microgravity, captured on video.
• The astronauts donned paper solar glasses to observe a lunar eclipse, mirroring Earth-based viewing.
• NASA released the mission's wake-up playlist, with crew favorites including Jeremy Hansen's choice of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, Victor Glover's "Good Morning" by Mandisa, Christina Koch's "Sleepyhead" by Young & Sick, and Reid Wiseman's selection of "Tokyo Drifting" by Glass Animals (alongside a track by Chappell Roan that Wiseman attributed to his daughters).

A young spectator at the launch site told reporters his excitement stemmed from humans returning to the Moon vicinity.

The Artemis program continues with Artemis III slated for 2027 to demonstrate docking technology with a lunar gateway, followed by Artemis IV in 2028, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface. Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson remarked, "Artemis and Artemis II remind us that our greatest chapters are yet to be written." The mission's success advances NASA's goals for sustained lunar presence and preparation for Mars exploration, building on decades of spaceflight experience.

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