Congressional Space Medal of Honor

[audience applauding] Now, Artemis II was just the beginning.

Those four heroic astronauts, recent recipients Of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor rode 8.8 million pounds of thrust to near Earth escape velocities, traveled farther into space than any humans in history around the Moon and back home safely, and that was just the opening act.

We are not waiting three years to fly again.

We are not turning every rocket into a work of art.

Artemis II is just the opening act.

The president just gave him the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Artemis III launches in 2027.

Artemis IV is when American astronauts return to the lunar surface in 2028.

You guys have been busy over the last five months.

I just saw you got the Congressional Space Medal of Honor a few weeks ago.

What have the last few months been like for you personally?

Very busy.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order late last week, creating the United States Space Academy, a planned institution to train engineers, technicians, operators and astronauts for the nation's space programs.

The president signed the order at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston during the same event where he presented the Artemis II crew with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

The order establishes a presidential commission on the United States Space Academy, chaired by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, with Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson serving as executive director.

Two White House officials, Michael Kratios and Kevin Hassett, will serve as vice chairs.

That's really good history and perspective, and I'm fully agreement with you.

Boots, we're gonna swing over to you because recently, uh, President Trump made news giving the astronauts of NASA's Artemis II moon mission the Congressional Space Medal of Honor during a ceremony at Johnson Space Center.

So this comes at a time when a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers introduced the Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act to award each crew member Congress's highest civilian honor.

Clearly, what they did is hugely important for the nation.

I mean, so cool.

I mean, an extraordinary achievement for the crew, but remember, not just the crew, but for the thousands of people and the organizations that made the mission possible.

So I think that there's something important about seeing this recognized, I guess, at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, right? The Congressional Space Medal of Honor recognizes the award- the extraordinary achievements of the astronauts themselves, but I think what the bipartisan effort happening in Congress to award them this Congressional Gold Medal, I think that's even a little broader.

Mm-hmm.

So he visited NASA's Johnson Space Center yesterday.

For a medal ceremony, he gave the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the Artemis II crew.

And that was Friday.

So the Friday before this podcast goes out.

The president signed an executive order creating a new space academy similar to our military service academies.

He also presented the Artemis II crew with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

In the newscast, they mentioned the Medal of Honor.

The Medal of Honor is the highest award given to someone in the military for being brave.

I can't grow hair on my face, that's for sure.

So President Trump, he's awarding the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to NASA's Artemis II crew.

That's what this video is about.

It says it right there on the screen.

Great job.

The London native and his Artemis II crewmates received the American Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

It recognizes astronauts who've distinguished themselves and contributed to the well-being of the world.

Three months after returning from the historic flyby of the moon, Hansen announced his retirement from Canada's astronaut program.