WATCH: Trump tells moon-looping Artemis astronauts what’s next in out-of-this-world phone call
Manuel Mazzanti/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Trump also informed Hansen that his countrymen are proud of him, stating, “I spoke to your prime minister and many other friends I have in Canada. They are so proud of you.”
Emphasizing that America is a “frontier nation” and that the Artemis II crew are “modern-day pioneers,” the president noted that while such journeys are rare, “It’s going to be more and more prevalent because we’re going to be doing a lot of … traveling, and then you’re going to ultimately do the whole big trip to Mars.”
Trump said that the Artemis II mission sets the stage for a return to the lunar surface “very soon,” adding that “this time, we won’t just leave footprints; we’ll establish a permanent presence on the moon.”
Commander Reid Wiseman, a Baltimore native, told Trump that his call was “certainly special to all of us.”
Wiseman noted that two unforgettable parts of their journey were watching a solar eclipse and glimpsing Mars: “All of us commented how excited we are to watch this nation and this planet become a two-planet species.”
Koch said her top highlight was seeing Earth again after passing around the far side of the moon.
“It really just reminds you what a special place we have and how important it is for our nation … to lead and not follow in exploring deep space,” said Koch.
The president said he plans to invite the astronauts to the White House after their return and to ask them for their autographs.
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