NASA's Artemis II astronauts celebrate homecoming at Kennedy Space Center

Four astronauts — commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — returned to Kennedy Space Center for their first official visit after the historic Artemis II mission. The crew, which completed humanity’s first crewed lunar fly‑by in more than half a century on April 1, 2026, toured key facilities, met engineers and technicians, and revisited the Orion spacecraft that carried them 252,756 miles (406,771 km) around the Moon.

During the visit the astronauts thanked the thousands of staff who supported the flight and received briefings on preparations for the upcoming Artemis III mission, which will practice lunar‑lander docking in Earth orbit. Hansen also announced his departure from the Canadian Space Agency later this year, though he will remain a reservist in the Royal Canadian Air Force and continue supporting the program. The crew’s homecoming underscores the teamwork behind the Artemis program’s goal of sustained lunar exploration and eventual missions to Mars.