September 30th, 2026
The Artemis II crew visited the University of Houston for a special speaking event, where they shared commentary on videos and photos from their mission around the Moon. They also discussed communicating with crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during their journey. To make the visit even more memorable, the crew accepted two world records while they were on campus!
Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen visited the University of Houston for a special speaking event, and it was an absolute pleasure to have them on campus. Their energy, personality, and charisma were nothing short of amazing. Being in the presence of these incredible astronauts was an unforgettable experience, especially alongside members of the crowd who had also played a role in supporting the Artemis II mission.
During the event, the Artemis II crew participated in a Q&A session and answered some great questions. One in particular resonated with many of the students, myself included. They were asked, “What was your most challanging class in college?” While the responses were lighthearted and humorous, there was a lot of truth behind them.
“If the classes feel hard, it is because they are… whatever you guys are feeling in class, all four of us on stage have felt that way at one point, too.” -Christina Koch
One of the most exciting moments of the event was seeing the Artemis II crew presented with two world records by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).
The first was the World Astronautic Record for Distance from Earth. On April 6, 2026, the crew reached a peak distance of 400,171 km (252,753 miles) from Earth’s surface, surpassing the previous record set by the Apollo 13 crew in April 1970.
The second was the World Astronautic Record for Altitude in Earth Orbit. Earlier in the mission, on April 2, 2026, the spacecraft reached a high Earth orbit altitude of 70,149 km (43,588 miles).
Having the Artemis II crew visit the University of Houston was an experience I will not forget. Hearing their stories, seeing their personalities firsthand, and learning more about the mission made the event feel much more personal than simply following it from afar. As an engineering student, it was especially meaningful to hear about the challenges they faced, the people who supported the mission, and the work that went into making it all possible. It was an incredible opportunity to celebrate a historic mission and the people behind it, and I am grateful I had the chance to be there.
