Trump Signs Order Creating U.S. Space Academy, Awards Medal of Honor to Artemis II Crew

Trump Establishes Space Academy, Awards Medals Of Honor To Artemis II Astronauts Authored by Travis Gillmore via The Epoch Times, President Donald Trump signed an executive order launching the U.S. Space Academy on Friday during a ceremony at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where he awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to four astronauts who crewed the Artemis II mission. Administration officials are directed to submit a proposal within 120 days to establish the Space Academy, under NASA's leadership, to provide technical education and degree programs needed to train the next generation of leaders to help guide NASA, Space Force, and businesses in the private sector. "It will attract, train, graduate the very best of our nation, that our nation really has to offer," Trump said. "But first, we have to honor the heroes who are inspiring the next generation of astronauts and pioneers." The president applauded the dozens of individuals in NASA's astronaut corps on the stage behind him before recognizing the Artemis II crew. "We gather here on these historic 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 who's ever traveled before," Trump said during the event. NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch were joined by Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen for the flight, as the astronauts traveled 252,758 miles from Earth and covered nearly 700,000 miles on the trip, according to NASA. "This is a very rare thing," Trump said of the medal. "It's for courageous people, brilliant people, bestowed on astronauts who have distinguished themselves with exceptional service to the nation and all of mankind." The crew took off on its 10-day lunar flyby mission April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard the Orion spacecraft named Integrity. Trump spoke to the astronauts over the phone while they were on their mission before hosting them at the White House for an Oval Office ceremony on April 29 shortly after they returned to Earth. Congress established the space-themed Medal of Honor in 1969 to recognize astronauts for their "exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the nation and of mankind." Six space pioneers, Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Pete Conrad, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, and Alan Shepard, were the first to receive the medal in 1978, awarded by President Jimmy Carter. Awardees are selected based on recommendations from NASA's administrator, with the Artemis II crew joining a short list of 30 prior recipients. Tyler Durden Sat, 08/29/2026 - 12:50

President Trump awarded the four-member Artemis II crew the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and signed an executive order directing the creation of a new U.S. Space Academy. The proposed academy would train engineers, scientists, technicians, operators, and astronauts for NASA, the Space Force, and the commercial space industry. Houston Public Media reports: The Artemis II crew -- NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen -- retraced history as they flew around the moon and back in April, the first time humans have been in lunar territory since the 1970s. He had previously hosted the crew members at the White House following their mission and called them during the mission while the crew was tens of thousands of miles away. "The one thing that really sticks out to us [from that call] is you said how proud you are and how proud our nation is for the job that we've just accomplished," Wiseman said during Friday's ceremony. "And for us, that is what we set out to do. We wanted to inspire this nation to learn." During the ceremony, Trump also signed an executive order to create the "United States Space Academy." Under the order, a Presidential Commission on the U.S. Space Academy has 120 days to create a report with guidelines for the U.S. Space Academy. The Commission will include NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman as its Chair, as well as other NASA and space officials. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Michael Kratsios, assistant to the president for science and technology. In effect, it allows the Trump Administration to build the U.S. Space Academy to its liking. "It will serve both the United States Space Force as well as NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry," Trump said. "And it will attract, train, graduate the very best that our nation and our nation really has to offer." As for where the academy will be located, Trump said he was "going to be choosing a location very shortly." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

President Trump has taken a monumental step by signing an order to create America's inaugural space academy, designed to elevate the nation's future leaders in space exploration. In a momentous interaction, he engaged with astronauts on the International Space Station. This initiative follows prior plans for lunar missions and commercial ventures, culminating in the recognition of the Artemis II crew with the prestigious Congressional Space Medal of Honour.

Texas: US President Donald Trump accorded the crew members of the Artemis II Space mission America's highest space award and also signed the order to create the US Space Academy.President Donald J. Trump awards the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the remarkable crew of Artemis II: "We're reminded that for America no aim is too high." Heroes, Patriots Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. pic.twitter.com/zmJAUqufQF— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 28, 2026 Sharing the details, NASA said that Trump awarded astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen with the Congressional Space Medal of Honour on Friday for their service during the Artemis II mission. He presented the awards during a ceremony at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, honouring the first medal recipients since 2023.Today at @NASAJohnson, the four crew members of Artemis II received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump for their historic, record-setting mission around the Moon. https://t.co/9uGYYLxhES pic.twitter.com/SIknQU4lVr— NASA (@NASA) August 28, 2026 On the occasion, President Trump said, "We gather on these historic grounds to celebrate the immense courage of four intrepid space heroes whose sense of daring and adventure led them further from Earth than anyone has ever travelled before."He lauded the skills of the people involved in the mission and said, "Today we're proudly awarding the Congressional Space Medal of Honour to the remarkable crew of Artemis II. These astronauts did not do it alone. I want to salute all of the engineers, scientists, launch and landing specialists, everyone at NASA who helped make this mission a great success.".@POTUS presents the crew of the Artemis II — CDR Reid Wiseman, PLT Victor Glover, MS Christina Koch, and MS Jeremy Hansen — with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. https://t.co/BgnudE61kp pic.twitter.com/LVfobFfKqV— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 28, 2026 NASA's historic Artemis II mission launched on April 1, and splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.Trump also signed an Executive Order on Friday to establish the nation's first US Space Academy.NASA noted that the proposed academy would focus on technical education, leadership development, discipline, and a commitment to public service, helping ultimately advance U.S. interests in space."Given the rapid growth of the U.S. Space Force and commercial space industry, and the expansion of our ambitions to the Moon and far beyond the Moon, it's clear we will need to educate and train an entire generation of skilled service members, engineers, and civil operators," President Trump said.Former NASA astronaut Harrison Schmitt, the twelfth and last person to step on the Moon, describes the magnificent view from the lunar surface. pic.twitter.com/dWg8J9lYIf— NASA (@NASA) August 28, 2026 The signing of "Establishing the United States Space Academy Executive Order" took place at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, where the President also presented the Artemis II crew members with the Congressional Space Medal of Honour.American broadcaster Fox News reported that President Donald Trump also spoke with American astronauts aboard the International Space Station from Houston.According to Fox News, the astronauts expressed pleasure at speaking to the President and said they were "thrilled".Donald Trump Administration Seeks To Restrict Internships For International Students He welcomed other officials to speak to the ISS crew and offered to welcome the astronauts to the White House when they return.According to a release by NASA, the order calls on NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to serve as the chair of a new Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy, and NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson to serve as the executive director.They will work with vice chairs -- Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Michael Kratsios, and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, Kevin Hassett -- and other representatives from the White House and the interagency on the commission.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)