The four Artemis II crewmembers — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — spoke publicly for the first time since returning from their successful lunar mission at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas.
Reid Wiseman opened by describing the deep bond the flight created. He said small in-flight rituals helped the crew stay focused and that the experience tied them together permanently. Reflecting on the human side of the trip, he spoke about missing family while more than 200,000 miles from home, the thrill of launch, and the strong desire to go again. He offered heartfelt thanks to family members and the many teams whose support made what he called the most special event of his life possible.
Victor Glover kept his remarks brief and emotional, admitting he was still processing the experience. He publicly thanked God, NASA leadership and the numerous mission teams, expressing gratitude for being part of the agency at this milestone moment.
Christina Koch focused on crew dynamics and lessons learned. She recalled the mission beginning with a call from the mission manager and ending with a small, human moment — a nurse tucking her in and asking for a hug — and said those grounded interactions shaped the journey. Koch redefined crew as a group moving in unison toward a single purpose, quietly sacrificing for one another, offering grace and holding each other accountable. She described Earth from orbit as a fragile lifeboat set against vast blackness and urged listeners to think of the planet as a shared crew to protect.
Jeremy Hansen closed by highlighting three feelings they lived during the mission: gratitude, joy and love. He thanked family, mission leadership and international partners, and described a team practice they called the joy train, used to recenter when needed. Hansen said the teamwork and happiness the public witnessed were reflections of the many people supporting them on the ground.
Together the astronauts emphasized training, teamwork and the rare intimacy of sharing such a mission. They praised operations teams who helped bring them home and noted how everyday comforts — syncing watches, joking about fast food, hugging loved ones — made an extraordinary voyage feel human. Their remarks underscored both the technical achievement of Artemis II and the personal, emotional experiences that defined their time in space.
