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Congressional Daily Record
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Issued
April 28, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextARTEMIS II CREW SURPASSED THE RECORD FOR THE FARTHEST DISTANCE TRAVELED
BY ASTRONAUTS INTO DEEP SPACE AND CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS OF THE
ARTEMIS II MISSION
Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 695
Whereas, on April 1, 2026, the Artemis II mission launched
successfully aboard the Space Launch System rocket from the
John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a
significant milestone in the efforts to return humans to the
Moon and advance deep space exploration;
Whereas National Aeronautics and Space Administration
astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and
Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency
Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (referred to in this
preamble as the “Artemis II crew”) demonstrated exceptional
skill, courage, and dedication in carrying out the historic
Artemis II mission;
Whereas the Artemis II crew traveled aboard the Orion
spacecraft named Integrity, which represents the enduring
values of exploration, teamwork, and scientific discovery;
Whereas, on April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew surpassed
the record set by the Apollo 13 mission for the farthest
distance traveled by astronauts from Earth, achieving a new
milestone in human spaceflight;
Whereas Integrity eventually reached a maximum distance of
252,760 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous record of
248,655 miles set in 1970 and setting a new benchmark for
crewed spaceflight;
Whereas the Artemis II mission represents a number of
historic firsts in crewed space exploration, including the
first woman, first African American, and first non-United
States astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit;
Whereas the Artemis II mission was the first human journey
to the vicinity of the Moon in more than 50 years;
Whereas this achievement reflects decades of sustained
investment and leadership by the United States, in
partnership with both the Canadian Space Agency and the
European Space Agency, and the contributions of thousands of
engineers, scientists, and skilled workers;
Whereas the Artemis effort is a partnership among
government, industry, and international partners that
involves more than 2,700 companies across the country whose
collective expertise and coordination enabled successful
execution of the Artemis II mission, demonstrating the
strength of cooperative space exploration;
Whereas the Artemis II mission was managed from Mission
Control and the Mission Evaluation Room at the Lyndon B.
Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where flight
controllers, engineers, and support teams ensured the safety
and success of the mission;
Whereas, on April 10, 2026, at 5:07 p.m. Pacific time, the
Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth, splashing down in
the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California;
Whereas following splashdown, the United States Navy, with
support from the United States Coast Guard, conducted
recovery operations and successfully retrieved the Artemis II
crew and spacecraft aboard the USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26);
Whereas the Artemis II mission showcased the economic and
technological strength of the United States, which is
supported by a highly skilled workforce and generates
innovation across multiple sectors of the economy; and
Whereas the success of the Artemis II mission has inspired
people around the world, rekindling a shared sense of wonder,
possibility, and unity and reaffirming the commitment of the
United States to peaceful exploration, scientific
advancement, and international collaboration in space: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) commemorates April 6, 2026, as the day the Artemis II
crew surpassed the record set by Apollo 13 for the farthest
distance traveled by astronauts into deep space;
(2) celebrates the successful completion of the Artemis II
mission, including its launch, historic journey, and safe
return to Earth;
(3) honors the achievements and service of Reid Wiseman,
Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen;
(4) celebrates technological and manufacturing excellence
led by the United States as showcased by the successful
Artemis II mission;
(5) recognizes the critical contributions of the flight
controllers, engineers, contractors, and support personnel,
particularly those at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, who
ensured mission success;
(6) commends the employees of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the Canadian Space Agency, and all
industry and international partners whose efforts made the
Artemis II mission possible; and
(7) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to
maintaining leadership in space exploration and advancing the
peaceful use of space for the benefit of all humanity.