Artemis II pilot thanks NASA for letting him fly Orion by hand: 'I'm still blown away by that trust'
The Artemis II crew thanked NASA and its contractors in front of a crowd of over 8,000 on on Aug. 3, 2026 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
Morrison, Colorado - The Artemis II crew that orbited the moon in April 2026 returned to a familiar yet awe-inspiring location on August 3, 2026. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a site visually reminiscent of both the moon and Mars, hosted the crew for a post-flight celebration. The 10-day Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit in 53 years, began on April 1 and concluded on April 10, with the crew splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
A crowd of 8,500 gathered at the venue to greet the astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The event also highlighted the region's contributions to the Artemis II mission, with a STEM festival and insights into the contributions of over 10,000 employees and 800 suppliers across the Rocky Mountain region.
The crew expressed their gratitude for the support, with Victor Glover highlighting the unique trust NASA placed in the crew's ability to fly Orion by hand during proximity operations. Glover stated, "I'm still blown away by that trust." The Artemis II crew's successful mission has set the stage for the upcoming Artemis III crewed flight in 2027, which will involve docking with lunar landers built by Blue Origin and SpaceX.
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