On February 24, 2026, the four astronauts slated for the Artemis II mission swapped their flight suits for formal attire, attending the State of the Union address as the distinguished guests of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Their presence in the gallery served as a bipartisan reminder of the nation’s next “giant leap” back toward the Moon.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Guests of Honor
The delegation represented the first human crew to visit the lunar vicinity since the Apollo era:
- Reid Wiseman (Commander): Leading the first crewed Orion flight.
- Victor Glover (Pilot): The first Person of Color to fly to the Moon.
- Christina Koch (Mission Specialist): The first woman to fly to the Moon.
- Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist): Representing the Canadian Space Agency.
Speaker Johnson characterized the crew as a symbol of “American ingenuity and courage,” emphasizing that their mission is a national priority that transcends political divides.
Mission Update: A Short Detour to the VAB
While the astronauts were celebrated in Washington, their ride to space—the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket—is currently undergoing maintenance.
- The Setback: Originally scheduled for a February launch, the mission has shifted to a late March or April 2026 window.
- Technical Fixes: NASA technicians are currently in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) resolving an issue with helium flow in the rocket’s upper stage.
- Pre-Flight Status: Because of the delay, the crew was granted a brief reprieve from their pre-flight medical quarantine, allowing them to attend the Capitol event before returning to strict isolation next month.
Artemis II: Mission Objectives
Artemis II is the critical “proving ground” mission before NASA attempts a surface landing with Artemis III.
| Feature | Mission Details |
| Duration | 10 days |
| Spacecraft | Orion (Integrity) |
| Trajectory | Hybrid Free Return (Lunar Flyby) |
| Key Goal | Testing life-support and manual maneuvering in deep space |
