TECHNOLOGY

Artemis II astronauts receive nation’s highest space honor for their successful moonshot

PUBLISHED Aug 28, 2026, 2:33 PM ET

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President Donald Trump awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the four Artemis II astronauts on Friday during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen received the honor for their April lunar flyby mission, which set a new human distance record of 252,756 miles from Earth. Trump also signed an executive order establishing a presidential commission to design a U.S. Space Academy, a proposed federal institution modeled on West Point to train personnel for the Space Force, NASA, and the commercial space industry. “Space is the hot thing,” Trump told the crowd. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the crew’s “extraordinary skill and courage.” The four are the first medal recipients since 2023 and join 30 prior astronauts honored since the award’s 1969 authorization. Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt, 91, attended the ceremony.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Past Events
· On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon.
· On December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 flew humanity’s first lunar voyage.
· In 1978, President Carter awarded first six Congressional Space Medals of Honor.
· On January 28, 1986, Challenger crew received posthumous medals after disaster.
· On February 1, 2003, Columbia crew received posthumous medals after disaster.
· In 2019, President Trump signed law creating the U.S. Space Force.
· On May 30, 2020, Hurley and Behnken launched first crewed SpaceX flight.
· In 2023, President Biden awarded Hurley and Behnken the Space Medal.
· On April 1, 2026, Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
· On April 10, 2026, Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
Present Events
· On August 28, 2026, Trump awarded medals to Artemis II crew in Houston.
· On August 28, 2026, Trump signed executive order creating Space Academy commission.
· On August 28, 2026, Trump called ISS astronauts from Mission Control.
· On August 28, 2026, crew presented Trump with a blue NASA flight jacket.
· NASA Administrator Isaacman chairs new Space Academy presidential commission.
Future Expectations
· Commission will submit Space Academy recommendations within 120 days.
· Artemis III orbital docking rehearsal is scheduled for 2027.
· Artemis IV moon landing could occur as soon as 2028.
· Trump pledged Americans will land on moon before his term ends.
· NASA plans sustainable moon base near lunar south pole.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Boosts national pride and reaffirms American leadership in space exploration.
Long-term US impact: Establishes dedicated pipeline for space workforce and military officers.
Most affected groups: NASA, Space Force, commercial space industry, aerospace engineers, and Texas.
Reader priority: Verify claims against official NASA and White House sources, not social media.
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