President Trump made a late-night call to the astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II following their historic journey around the moon.
NASA’s Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles (6,600 kilometers) farther than Apollo 13.
President Trump congratulated Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen for their efforts in shattering the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.
“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud. We have a lot of things to be proud of lately, but this is, there’s nothing like what you’re doing,” Trump said.
“Humans have really never seen anything quite like what you’re doing in a manned spacecraft.”
Trump extended an invitation to the astronauts to meet him at the White House upon landing back on Earth.
“I look forward to seeing you in the Oval Office… and I’ll ask for your autograph because I don’t really ask for autographs much, but you deserve that,” the president said. You really are something. Everybody’s talking about this.”
“We will celebrate your incredible achievements and triumphs. This is big, this is really big stuff. The whole world is talking about it… I’ve been pretty busy also, as you know, but I will absolutely find the time and we’ll get together. I’m going to be giving you a big salute on behalf of the American people and beyond that.”
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