Reactions as Artemis II astronauts lift off on historic lunar mission
April 1 (Reuters) – Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday for NASA’s Artemis II mission, a 10-day trip around the Moon that would be the longest human journey ever and a major step toward returning humans to the lunar surface this decade.
Here are some reactions.
US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ADDRESSES THE NATION:
“Let me start by congratulating the NASA team and our brave astronauts on the successful launch of Artemis II. It was something.
“It will travel further than any manned rocket has ever flown and will go well beyond the Moon, around it and back from a distance that has never been achieved before.
“It’s amazing. They’re on their way and God bless them, they’re brave people. God bless these four incredible astronauts.”
NASA ADMINISTRATOR JARED ISAACMAN AT PRESS CONFERENCE:
“After a brief 54-year intermission, NASA is back to sending astronauts to the Moon.
“We got to this point through sustained effort, national commitment and the work of thousands of people across the agency, our industry partners and our international allies.”
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY IN A STATEMENT:
“Today, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen makes history as the first Canadian to venture to the Moon.
“With Artemis II, Canada becomes only the second country on Earth to send an astronaut on a lunar mission.
“This remarkable achievement is a testament to Colonel Hansen’s exceptional skills and the decades of discipline, dedication and perseverance that have brought him to this moment.
“It is also a testament to Canada and our world-class science, cutting-edge technology and remarkable astronauts.”
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON ON X:
“With Artemis II, more than fifty years after Apollo 17, the Moon once again becomes this gathering place for people who “pool their resources and dare to dream.”
“French people, Europeans, we can be proud to participate in this extraordinary adventure by playing a key role thanks to the European service module developed by the European Space Agency.”
RETIRED ASTRONAUT AND FORMER NASA ADMINISTRATOR CHARLIE BOLDEN TO REUTERS:
“It was amazing to see. I’m an emotional person, just tears of joy, thinking of all the people who have worked until today for over a decade just to get here. Very proud.
“I hope that in the morning when I wake up and look at all the reports, no matter what country they’re coming from, people will say, ‘We’re on our way back to the moon.’ We’re on our way back to the moon.”
(Compiled by Jamie Freed; edited by Cynthia Osterman and Clarence Fernandez)
