AI Insight
On August 28, 2026, President Donald J. Trump awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the four-member Artemis II crew: NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The ceremony took place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, recognizing the crew's exceptional service during the Artemis II mission. This brings the total number of Congressional Space Medal of Honor recipients to 34 since the award's establishment in 1969.
Why it matters
This recognition highlights the significance of the Artemis II mission as part of NASA's program to return humans to lunar exploration and acknowledges international collaboration in space exploration through the inclusion of a Canadian astronaut. The award underscores the continuing importance of human spaceflight achievements and their contributions to national and global scientific advancement.
Understand the Science
From left to right: NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump on Aug. 28, 2026, for their service during the Artemis II mission.
The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in 1969 to recognize an astronaut who in the performance of duties has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally brave and meritorious efforts, and contributions to the welfare of the nation and humanity. There now are 34 recipients of the award since the beginning of the space program, including the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia who received the award posthumously.
Image credit: NASA/John Kraus
Source: NASA’s Artemis II Crew Receives Congressional Space Medal of Honor