Trump to honor Artemis II crew with nation's top space medal

President Donald Trump is set to honor NASA's Artemis II crew with the highest space honor, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, according to CBS News. The White House has confirmed the ceremony will take place on Friday, August 28, at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The astronauts honored will be Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from Canada.

This mission marked the first manned lunar voyage around the moon in over half a century, concluding safely on April 10 after a 10-day journey. Only 30 astronauts have been bestowed with this prestigious medal, including iconic figures like Neil Armstrong and John Glenn. Past recipients include astronauts who tragically lost their lives in the Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia disasters.

The last individuals to receive this honor were Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, who in 2020 conducted the inaugural launch to orbit on a commercial spacecraft. While the medal is named after Congress, it is ultimately awarded by the president upon recommendation from the NASA administrator. The authorization for presenting this honor lies with Congress, designating it for any astronaut who has made exceptional contributions to the welfare of the nation and humanity.