U.S. Senator Katie Britt Speaks Live with Artemis II Astronaut Crew During Their Final Day in Space

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today joined NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and several lawmakers to talk to the four Artemis II astronauts ahead of their re-entry to Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft, Integrity, launched on NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket designed, managed, and engineered in Huntsville. This is the first crew to fly to deep space since 1972 and their lunar fly-by will conclude on Friday, April 10, when they plan to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen were on the call.

Senator Britt addressed the crew, saying, "Hey everyone! I know how proud we are in Alabama of the role that Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville has played in this incredible mission. So, I can't even imagine how unbelievably proud your families are of you and how excited they are to see you soon and to welcome you back to Earth. So, instead of a question, I want to let each of you just take the next minute to publicly address your children and the next generation of space explorers as (this) history-making space flight mission enters its final hours. So, thank you so much for your incredible service and your example."

Wiseman responded, "Well, I thank you very much for this question … I just want to look at my daughters Ellie and Katie and just say I love you and their support has been unbelievable. I don't think they knew what this mission really meant when we launched, but they have learned through the outpouring of public support, their friend's support and family's support. Really, the world has come together. We have seen it and we have seen it through their eyes too. And it has been a very proud moment for me as their father to see the joy in their expression and the way they email and communicate when we have private conferences."

Hansen responded, "For my three children, Devon, Ashley and Kaitlin, you know, I think it's worth pointing out I learn as much, maybe more from you than you learn from me. But the one thing I would remind you, and I think is worth reminding ourselves and other youth is that all you have to do on any given day is just get up and do your best and try to find joy in your day and try to contribute in a meaningful and positive way. And that's it. And I think we as humans, we put too much pressure on ourselves, looking for perfection. And, if you look at what we're doing out here, it is far from perfection, but we are getting it done."

Glover responded, "Genesis, Maya, Joia and Corinne, as we are on our way back from this dream of a mission, your mom and I look forward to supporting you, chasing and catching your own dreams. We spent years coaching you, but we are very much in that transition to being cheerleaders and just rooting for you in life. And to the future citizens out there, the same sentiment applies. I hope this mission is giving you something that you can take and put in your pocket, or in your heart and mind that you keep with you, but it's not because we want you to see what we've tried to show you. It's because we want you to take this and build a vocabulary to explain the world to us."

Koch responded, "I'll take this second to say something to my nine nieces and nephews, which is I love you and thank you for the amazing letters you wrote me, the amazing pictures you drew me. You had beautiful Earths and rockets, and they truly touched my mission, and I feel like you're here with me."

A video of the live feed with the astronauts can be viewed here.

Following the call, Senator Britt praised NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, saying,"This historic Artemis II mission is a remarkable feat of mankind made possible by decades of Alabama grit and ingenuity. As our nation reflects on this extraordinary accomplishment, I'm especially proud to highlight the men and women of Marshall Space Flight Center. It was an honor to thank the Artemis II crew today for their leadership and contributions to the future of space exploration, but it also reminded me of the work happening every day in Huntsville to execute this mission. I couldn't be prouder to support Marshall's space programs, and I'm deeply grateful for every single individual who played a role in making this journey a reality. Because of their efforts, America is leading the way back to the Moon and then to Mars."

MSFC has led the development of every NASA rocket designed to carry humans into space and continues to lead efforts to return Americans to the Moon. The center has played a pioneering role in propulsion systems and hardware development, space and materials science research, advanced manufacturing, and life support systems, advancing nearly every aspect of space exploration.

The Artemis II crew flew farther than any human has traveled in deep space on an SLS rocket designed, built, tested, and managed by MSFC. Control rooms at MSFC, the LUCA (Lunar Utilization Control Area) and LESA (Lander Engineering Support Area), have also been actively supporting real-time mission operations throughout the 10-day mission.

Senator Britt has been a champion for the Marshall Space Flight Center and the important programs led by this center, including the SLS, Human Landing System (HLS), and Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP). In the FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act that passed earlier this year, Senator Britt fought for more than $1.3 billion for SLS, over $2 billion to fund the development of two independent HL) vehicles, and no less than $110 million for NTP systems. Last year, she was proud to personally advocate for critical funding in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act for Alabama's space programs, including $4.1 billion for the SLS to support Artemis IV and V missions and $100 million for upgrades at Marshall Space Flight Center.

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