Artemis II launched April 1 and returned nine days later after a 252,756-mile journey — the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit and around the Moon in 53 years. The mission delivered historic firsts for Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen and showcased U.S. scientific and industrial strength. The author urges Congress to pass the bipartisan Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act to honor the crew and calls for sustained investment in Artemis, NASA research and space security as China and Russia expand counterspace capabilities.
Artemis II Proves American Excellence: Why Congress Should Honor the Crew
On July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA and setting the United States on a path that shaped decades of innovation and leadership. As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, it is worth remembering that American progress has always depended on ambition, hard work and a willingness to push beyond the known.
From the Apollo landings to the recent Artemis II mission, the United States continues to demonstrate what is possible when bold ideas meet determined execution. Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 1 and, nine days later, splashed down in the Pacific after a 252,756-mile voyage — the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth and the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit and around the Moon in 53 years.
Historic Firsts and a Record-Breaking Mission
The Artemis II crew achieved several milestone firsts: Victor Glover became the first Black astronaut and first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit and around the Moon; Christina Koch became the first woman to do so; and Jeremy Hansen, representing the Canadian Space Agency, became the first Canadian and first non-American to participate on such a mission. Commander Reid Wiseman led the flight and now has logged 175 days in space across two missions.
A Nationwide Effort
These accomplishments reflect an extraordinary national effort. Thousands of scientists, engineers, technicians, manufacturers and military personnel across the country supported Artemis II — including suppliers and university teams in Nebraska. Four Nebraska suppliers contributed to the program, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Big Red Satellite team built the first Nebraskan CubeSat sent to the International Space Station in 2024, and Nebraskan astronaut Clayton C. Anderson completed three spacewalks during a 152-day mission aboard the station.
Legislation To Recognize Achievement
To honor this achievement, I introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act with Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and my co-chairs of the Advancing Humanity in Space Congressional Caucus — Reps. George Whitesides (D-Calif.), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) and Glenn Ivey (D-Md.). The bill would award each crew member a Congressional Gold Medal, recognizing both their accomplishment and the thousands of Americans whose expertise made the mission possible. The last Congressional Gold Medals awarded to astronauts were authorized in 2009 for the Apollo 11 crew and John Glenn; Artemis II merits similar recognition.
Space Is Vital To Everyday Life — And Increasingly Contested
Beyond prestige and inspiration, space exploration delivers practical benefits: GPS, weather satellites and communications systems underpin modern agriculture, banking, transportation and emergency services. At the same time, the space domain has become more contested. China is expanding its satellite and counterspace capabilities, and Russia continues to develop ways to threaten systems in orbit. Given how much our economy and national security depend on space assets, the United States must remain vigilant and maintain its advantage.
Artemis II demonstrated the scientific talent, industrial strength and operational precision that distinguish American leadership in space.
Congress should pass the Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act to honor the crew that carried humanity farther than ever before and to signal continued, bipartisan support for Artemis, NASA science, our aerospace industrial base and the people who make exploration possible. This anniversary offers a fitting opportunity to recognize achievement and recommit to the next era of discovery, innovation and security in space.
About the author: Don Bacon represents Nebraska’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives and chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies and Innovation. He is a retired Air Force brigadier general with nearly 30 years of active-duty service.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Help us improve.
