Resolution honors the four astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any human before, and the people and suppliers who made the mission’s success possible
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today introduced a resolution to commemorate the hugely successful Artemis II mission that launched on April 1, 2026, and returned astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen safely to Earth on April 10, 2026. The Artemis II mission took humans farther from Earth than ever before, when on April 6, 2026, the crew surpassed the record set by Apollo 13 for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts into deep space.
“Congratulations to NASA and the entire Artemis team on an extraordinary mission,” said Sen. Cantwell. “The four astronauts who returned safely to Earth on April 10th paved the way not only for a return to the Moon, but for a sustained human presence there. When I spoke with the pilot of the Orion spacecraft, Victor Glover, during the mission, I was struck by his emphasis on the importance of human exploration itself — that there is something uniquely powerful about people going, seeing, learning, and representing all of us. With the support of 41 companies in Washington state, the Artemis II mission met its key objectives and was an absolute success. But beyond the mission’s technical achievements, the astronauts also imparted a powerful message about unity and the importance of caring for our shared home planet.”
“Artemis II reverberated around the world, sending a clear message: the United States will lead this new era of space exploration,” said Sen. Cruz. “The crew and NASA’s exceptional team, including those at Johnson Space Center, demonstrated the skill and determination needed to return to the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars. I join all Americans in celebrating the work of these astronauts and our nation’s historic achievement.”
The resolution recognizes and commends the scientists, engineers, support personnel and the hundreds of suppliers that made the success of Artemis II possible and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to continue to lead the way in the space exploration and the science that makes such exploration possible. The success of the Artemis II mission paves the way for Artemis III, which will test our systems for returning humans to the lunar surface when it launches next year.
Sen. Cantwell has been a champion for our nation’s space industry and its aerospace workforce. She spoke with the astronauts during their mission, and earlier this month, she visited several Washington companies that are supporting the Artemis II mission. In March, Sen. Cantwell led bipartisan, unanimous passage through the Commerce Committee of the NASA Authorization Act of 2026, which confirms support for the Artemis missions. As Chair of the Committee, Sen. Cantwell originally introduced the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2024.
The full text of the resolution is below and HERE.
Commemorating April 6, 2026, as the day the Artemis II crew surpassed the record for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts into deep space and celebrating the success of the Artemis II mission.
Mr. Cruz (for himself and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on __________
Whereas, on April 1, 2026, the Artemis II mission launched successfully aboard the Space Launch System rocket from the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a significant milestone in the efforts to return humans to the Moon and advance deep space exploration;
Whereas National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (referred to in this preamble as the “Artemis II crew”) demonstrated exceptional skill, courage, and dedication in carrying out the historic Artemis II mission;
Whereas the Artemis II crew traveled aboard the Orion spacecraft named Integrity, which represents the enduring values of exploration, teamwork, and scientific discovery;
Whereas, on April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew surpassed the record set by the Apollo 13 mission for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts from Earth, achieving a new milestone in human spaceflight;
Whereas Integrity eventually reached a maximum distance of 252,760 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous record of 248,655 miles set in 1970 and setting a new benchmark for crewed spaceflight;
Whereas the Artemis II mission represents a number of historic firsts in crewed space exploration, including the first woman, first African American, and first non-United States astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit;
Whereas the Artemis II mission was the first human journey to the vicinity of the Moon in more than 50 years;
Whereas this achievement reflects decades of sustained investment and leadership by the United States, in partnership with both the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency, and the contributions of thousands of engineers, scientists, and skilled workers;
Whereas the Artemis effort is a partnership among government, industry, and international partners that involves more than 2,700 companies across the country whose collective expertise and coordination enabled successful execution of the Artemis II mission, demonstrating the strength of cooperative space exploration;
Whereas the Artemis II mission was managed from Mission Control and the Mission Evaluation Room at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where flight controllers, engineers, and support teams ensured the safety and success of the mission;
Whereas, on April 10, 2026, at 5:07 p.m. Pacific time, the Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California;
Whereas following splashdown, the United States Navy, with support from the United States Coast Guard, conducted recovery operations and successfully retrieved the Artemis II crew and spacecraft aboard the USS John P. Murtha (LPD–26);
Whereas the Artemis II mission showcased the economic and technological strength of the United States, which is supported by a highly skilled workforce and generates innovation across multiple sectors of the economy; and
Whereas the success of the Artemis II mission has inspired people around the world, rekindling a shared sense of wonder, possibility, and unity and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to peaceful exploration, scientific advancement, and international collaboration in space: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) commemorates April 6, 2026, as the day the Artemis II crew surpassed the record set by Apollo 13 for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts into deep space;
(2) celebrates the successful completion of the Artemis II mission, including its launch, historic journey, and safe return to Earth;
(3) honors the achievements and service of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen;
(4) celebrates technological and manufacturing excellence led by the United States as showcased by the successful Artemis II mission;
(5) recognizes the critical contributions of the flight controllers, engineers, contractors, and support personnel, particularly those at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, who ensured mission success;
(6) commends the employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Canadian Space Agency, and all industry and international partners whose efforts made the Artemis II mission possible; and
(7) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to maintaining leadership in space exploration and advancing the peaceful use of space for the benefit of all humanity.
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