Washington, D.C., USA: The NASA Artemis II mission has successfully progressed through a critical phase, marking a significant milestone in modern space exploration. On this occasion, US President Donald Trump extended his congratulations to the Artemis II crew and NASA team during a surprise call to the astronauts.

Praising their achievement, Trump stated that the crew had witnessed something unprecedented in human history. He described the mission as a moment of immense pride for the United States and commended the astronauts for creating history.

During the lunar flyby, the Artemis II spacecraft temporarily lost communication with Earth for approximately 40 minutes, a planned blackout phase as it moved behind the Moon. Reflecting on the experience, pilot Victor Glover revealed that the crew remained calm and prayed during the communication gap while continuing to document observations on the Moon’s far side.

When asked about the most memorable moment of the mission, astronaut Reid Wiseman noted that receiving a surprise call from the President was a special and unexpected highlight for the team. He also emphasized the uniqueness of the दृश्य witnessed during the mission, describing it as something rarely seen even in historic missions.

Following the blackout period, communication with Earth was successfully restored. Astronaut Christina Koch expressed relief and excitement upon re-establishing contact, calling it a reassuring moment for the crew.

During their return journey, the astronauts also observed a total solar eclipse from space, an extraordinary sight that added to the mission’s historic significance. Victor Glover described the experience as beyond words, highlighting the rare perspective humans have yet to fully comprehend.

President Trump further announced that he intends to meet the Artemis II crew at the White House upon the successful completion of their mission.

April 5, 2026