Four astronauts who flew on NASA's Artemis II mission received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump on August 28, 2026. The crew includes NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
According to NASA, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in 1969. It recognizes an astronaut who in the performance of duties has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally brave and meritorious efforts, and contributions to the welfare of the nation and humanity.
The Artemis II crew brings the total number of recipients to 34 since the beginning of the space program. Previous recipients include the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia, all of whom received the award posthumously.
The medal represents one of the highest honors the United States can give to members of its space program. The Artemis II mission marked a significant milestone in NASA's effort to return humans to the vicinity of the Moon.
