Artemis II Astronauts Celebrate Historic Lunar Linkup with International Space Station

Tue Apr 07 2026 21:31:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a groundbreaking moment for space exploration, the Artemis II crew connects with astronauts aboard the International Space Station, marking a first in lunar-to-space communication. This historic event signifies a promising future for NASA's Artemis program and lunar exploration.

The Artemis II crew, fresh from their lunar flyby, makes history by establishing the first-ever radio link with the International Space Station. Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir reconnect 230,000 miles apart, celebrating their shared history and setting the stage for future Artemis missions aimed at returning humans to the moon.

HOUSTON (AP) — The Artemis II astronauts, basking in the glow of their successful lunar flyby, reached out to their colleagues aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday. This historic communication marks the first instance of a moonship engaging in a radio linkup with a spaceship, a significant milestone in space exploration.

This pivotal moment showcases the advancement of space travel compared to NASA’s Apollo mission crews of the 60s and 70s, who were isolated during their lunar journeys without any off-planet communications.

During the linkup, astronauts Christina Koch, part of the Artemis II crew, and Jessica Meir, stationed aboard the ISS, celebrated a joyous reunion despite the vast distance of 230,000 miles (370,000 kilometers) that separated them. The two astronauts previously collaborated on a historic all-female spacewalk in 2019.

The communications were facilitated by Houston's Mission Control, allowing the four crew members returning from the moon to connect with the ISS's three NASA and one French astronauts.

The Artemis II commander, Reid Wiseman, shared stunning images from the lunar mission, highlighting a new record for distance traveled by humans in space. A standout moment was his Earthset photo, reminiscent of the famous Earthrise shot captured during Apollo 8 in 1968.

As the crew prepares for a splashdown off the San Diego coast on Friday, their journey marks a significant milestone as the first lunar explorers since Apollo 17 in 1972. This mission paves the way for Artemis III in 2024, which will demonstrate lunar lander docking capabilities in Earth’s orbit and aims for future lunar landings, including a mission to the lunar south pole in 2028 with Artemis IV.