WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) applauded the successful conclusion of Artemis II. At approximately 8:07 p.m. ET / 5:07 p.m. PT, the Orion crew capsule safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California.
Chairman Cruz said: “I am incredibly proud of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. Their 10-day mission in space, traveling farther than any humans in history, displayed the very best of American leadership, ingenuity, and courage.
“I want to thank everyone behind the mission, including the hardworking team at Johnson Space Center in Texas, which has been the center of human spaceflight since 1961. Their dedication and expertise made this historic achievement possible. Under the leadership of Administrator Jared Isaacman, space exploration is no longer a distant hope; it is a visible and tangible reality.
“With unwavering dedication and innovation, this mission paves the way for the United States to establish a permanent Moon base and prepare for future missions to Mars.
“Go Artemis!”
Last month, the committee unanimously advanced the NASA Authorization Act of 2026, landmark legislation to secure American dominance in the new space race. Cruz led the successful effort in Congress to secure $10 billion in long-term funding for NASA in last year’s Working Families Tax Cut Act, commonly referred to as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.
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