The Artemis II crew returned to Earth on April 10 after a 10-day lunar flyby, marking a milestone in human space exploration. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—spoke with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz at UN headquarters in New York.
During the visit, the crew described the mission as a “glorious” experience. They also discussed the importance of connecting with humanity and inspiring global cooperation. Waltz presented the astronauts with hats bearing the slogan “MUNGA,” a play on President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” phrase.
Wiseman said the mission aimed to set the stage for future Artemis missions and to demonstrate what humanity can achieve when united. “We wanted to get this space agency in this world ready for Artemis III and IV,” he said. “But in the end, we really wanted to connect with humanity. We wanted humanity to pause and see that this world can still do something exceptionally well when they put their mind to it.”
Glover reflected on his experience looking back at Earth, saying he felt grateful and inspired. “What we saw out the window was changing, and that is one of the unique things,” he said. Koch described Earth as more special than ever when viewed from space, emphasizing the importance of protecting the planet. Hansen spoke of feeling small in the vastness of space but empowered by what humans can accomplish together.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted that the Artemis program was established by President Trump in 2020, with the Artemis Accords serving as a framework for responsible space exploration among participating countries. The crew’s UN visit followed a meeting with Trump at the White House, where he also spoke with the astronauts as they orbited the Moon earlier this month.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
