Artemis II Astronauts Speak During Historic Lunar Mission

On Monday, April 20, the crew of the Artemis II spacecraft will make history as they loop around the far side of the Moon, pushing human exploration further than ever before. This monumental mission has captured the attention of the nation, and locally, many Tampa residents are following the journey closely.

Correspondent Mark Strassmann recently spoke with the four-person crew: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. At the time of the interview, the astronauts were approximately 180,000 miles from Earth, preparing for their historic lunar flyby.

While the mission is global in scope, the spirit of exploration and scientific advancement resonates deeply within communities like Tampa, which has strong ties to space exploration through its proximity to Florida's Space Coast. Local schools and science centers like MOSI are expected to highlight this mission as an inspiration for future generations.

The Artemis II mission serves as a critical step in NASA's plans to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually to Mars. The crew's journey around the Moon's far side will provide invaluable data and experience for these ambitious future endeavors.

Residents interested in following the mission can find updates through official NASA channels and major news outlets as the crew continues their journey.