The four astronauts who recently completed the historic Artemis II lunar mission traveled to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to provide firsthand accounts of their journey to federal lawmakers. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch of NASA, joined by Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, met with congressional staff to discuss the technical and scientific achievements of their flight. The group was accompanied by ‘Rise,’ the zero-gravity indicator that served as a mascot during their expedition.

This high-profile meeting comes on the heels of the mission’s conclusion in April 2026, during which the crew spent nearly ten days orbiting the Moon before successfully splashing down on Earth. The flight represented a major milestone for the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System, confirming the viability of these systems for future long-duration deep space missions.

By engaging directly with policymakers, the crew aimed to demonstrate the practical impact of deep space exploration. These briefings serve to maintain legislative momentum for the Artemis program, emphasizing that the infrastructure and expertise developed during this mission are essential components for the next generation of lunar landings. The visit highlighted the mission’s success as a foundational step in returning humans to the lunar surface.