Artemis II Crew Reconnects With Moonship After Historic Journey
WHO:
ABC News - Jeremy Hansen announced he will leave the Canadian Space Agency in September but will remain a reservist in the Royal Canadian Air Force and continue supporting the Artemis program.
Phys.org - The Artemis II astronauts include commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, along with NASA astronaut Christina Koch.
ABC News - Christina Koch is noted as the first woman to fly to the moon.
WHAT:
ABC News - The Artemis III mission is set for next year and will involve three NASA astronauts and one Italian astronaut, with plans to practice docking with lunar landers in development by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Phys.org - The Artemis II astronauts reunited with their capsule after a historic flight around the moon.
ABC News - The crew traveled a record distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) during their lunar fly-around.
ABC News - The Artemis II mission marked humanity’s first trip to the moon in over half a century.
ABC News - The Artemis III mission is set for next year and will involve three NASA astronauts and one Italian astronaut.
ABC News - Artemis IV is planned for as early as 2028, featuring a moon landing by two astronauts not yet identified.
WHERE:
ABC News - The reunion took place at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
WHEN:
ABC News - The Artemis II astronauts blasted off in April.
ABC News - Hansen announced he will leave the Canadian Space Agency in September.
WHY:
ABC News - Christina Koch expressed pride that NASA's crew selection for Artemis III was not influenced by external pressures to achieve a certain appearance.
ABC News - Commander Reid Wiseman expressed gratitude to those who helped send them on the flight, highlighting public enthusiasm for the mission.
HOW:
ABC News - The Artemis II mission utilized the Space Launch System rocket for the launch.
(UPDATED July 9, 2026 13:55 UTC)
Jeremy Hansen has announced that he will leave the Canadian Space Agency in September but will continue his role as a reservist in the Royal Canadian Air Force while supporting the Artemis program. The Artemis III mission is scheduled for next year and will feature three NASA astronauts alongside one Italian astronaut, who will practice docking with lunar landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. Christina Koch shared her pride that NASA's crew selection for Artemis III remained free from external pressures regarding appearance.
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(UPDATED July 9, 2026 10:08 UTC)
The Artemis II astronauts, including commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, recently reunited with their capsule at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after a historic flight around the moon. During this mission, the crew traveled a record distance of 252,756 miles, marking humanity's first trip to the moon in over half a century, with Christina Koch becoming the first woman to fly to the moon. Looking ahead, the Artemis III mission is scheduled for next year, while Artemis IV is planned for as early as 2028, featuring a moon landing by two yet-to-be-identified astronauts.