Former US President Donald Trump welcomed the crew of the historic Artemis II lunar flyby mission to the White House on Wednesday. The four astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, joined Mr Trump in the Oval Office for a celebratory meeting and press conference.
Artemis II is a crucial step in NASA's Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually establish a sustainable presence there. This mission will see the crew orbit the Moon before returning to Earth, testing critical systems and procedures for future lunar landings.
During the press conference, Mr Trump praised the astronauts and the mission. His comments included a personal reflection on the physical demands of space travel, stating, 'I would have had no trouble making it'.
The Artemis programme represents a significant international endeavour, with partnerships and contributions from various countries, including European nations. The Artemis II mission is currently scheduled to launch in 2025, following the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022.