Trump establishes US space academy as Artemis II crew receives Space Medal of Honor

President Donald Trump on Friday bestowed the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on the Artemis II crew, marking their historic achievement during a ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The crew -- NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen -- traveled farther into deep space than anyone else in history during their trip around the Moon in April. What they learned during their test flight will help NASA return astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2028.

"We gather here on these storied grounds to celebrate the immense courage and service of four intrepid space heroes whose sense of daring and adventure led them further from Earth than anyone has ever traveled before," Trump said.

Joined at the event by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the president told a story about being in an important meeting with "the biggest people in the country, maybe some of the biggest people in the world" when someone asked to watch the Artemis II mission.

"You would, really? Right in the middle of our meeting. You want to watch?" Trump recalled saying at the time. He said they had a television set pulled up for the group to watch, adding that "everybody was spellbound."

The president used Friday's occasion to sign an executive order establishing the U.S. Space Academy, a national academy similar to the service academies for the armed forces, such as West Point and the Air Force Academy.

"It will serve both the United States Space Force as well as NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry, and it'll attract, train and graduate the very best of our nation," Trump said.

A location for the new academy will be chosen shortly, according to the president.

During the ceremony, the president personally placed the medal around the necks of each astronaut as they were recognized for their work during the mission.

After receiving his medal, an emotional Wiseman, the commander of the Artemis II mission, spoke about the scale of the joint effort the mission required.

"We wear these four medals, and we are going to wear them with pride. But please know, it is not pride for ourselves that we feel, and I truly mean that," he said. "It is pride for the grit that our families had when we left this planet. It is pride for that team, this NASA team, that sent us on this mission. And it is pride for the international community that stood alongside us, got this vehicle ready, operated and cheered us on."

Glover, the Artemis II pilot, then presented Trump with an official NASA blue flight jacket, saying the crew wanted to make good on its promise to him when they were in the Oval Office.

"To the Artemis crew II, you stand here incredibly deserving of this recognition. Thank you for showing us the moon again, for showing the world your humanity and for passing your knowledge and the baton to the astronauts who will follow in your very accomplished footsteps. There are no finer humans we could have sent as our ambassadors to the stars," NASA's Isaacman said during the event.

With NASA's astronaut corps seated on stage, Apollo 17 astronaut and former Sen. Harrison Schmitt, a Republican from New Mexico, kicked off the event by speaking about his 1972 mission -- the last mission of the Apollo program.

"Apollo 17's success, as the success of all the other missions was owed to the patriotic dedication, the courage, the competence of young men and women, young men and women, who designed and built and managed and trained and planned each of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions. It was an extraordinary privilege for me to be part of that."

NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson said Apollo pioneers like Schmitt "handed the baton" to the men and women working on the space shuttle program, which built the International Space Station.

"Early this year, the Artemis II crew added their names to that history. They carried humanity around the world, around the moon, for the first time in more than 50 years. Demonstrated that America is ready to return and paved the way for those who will follow," Anderson said.

He also spoke about what's at stake for NASA and the U.S. space program in the years to come.

"The second space race has begun, and right now, America is on the shot clock. Our national security, the prestige of our nation and the dreams of millions of Americans are riding on our ability to get the job done."

Congress authorized the granting of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1969, proclaiming that "The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of appropriate design, which shall be known as the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, to any astronaut who in the performance of his duties has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and of mankind."

Since then, only 34 astronauts have received the honor, including the Artemis II crew. The first recipients of the award in 1978 included Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Pete Conrad, John Glenn, Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Alan Shepard.