In a historic visit to the United Nations headquarters, the Artemis 2 crew highlights common human values

Their visit on Thursday was a continuation of a long tradition. Astronauts – of all nationalities – have been coming to the United Nations for decades to talk about peace, international cooperation, and our shared global future.

The four-member crew carried out the farthest human spaceflight in history, traveling beyond the far side of the moon and returning safely to Earth after ten days full of effort, challenge and inspiration. During that brief period, these astronauts “captured the imagination of billions” of people and revived a sense of collective human participation in space exploration.

Tradition and continuity

The United Nations General Assembly building has long welcomed pioneers of the space age, starting with Soviet cosmonauts Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova, the first men and women in space..

Their visit in October 1963 not only symbolized technological progress, but also embodied the idea that the universe was a space in which humanity could unite.

Since then, representatives of many countries have repeatedly addressed the international community, stressing that space exploration is impossible without cooperation and sharing responsibility.

The Artemis 2 mission continues this legacy. It not only represents a pioneering technological achievement, but is also a model of international partnership that includes multiple countries and institutions, including the European Space Agency, and relies on scientific tools and systems developed by specialists from around the world.

The Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, Ambassador Mike Waltz, who hosted the evening of dialogue with the astronauts in front of a crowd of enthusiastic attendees, said: “I had the opportunity to talk to everyone on our way here; I mean these four people – three Americans and one Canadian – who are very normal people but exceptional achievers.”

As for the crew members, they confirmed that their mission was not limited to testing a spacecraft only, but also aimed to remind people on Earth that humanity is capable of achieving great achievements when it works in a spirit of cooperation and solidarity.

Earth from the depths of space

Seeing Earth from the depths of space was the most powerful experience ever for all astronauts. From hundreds of thousands of miles away, the planet appeared small, fragile, almost weightless against the overwhelming darkness — an image that highlighted the uniqueness of Earth and the rarity of life itself.

Pilot Victor Glover said: “I have always felt a strong urge to be grateful for what we see, and grateful for what we eventually return to.”

Astronaut Christina Koch described a sudden realization of the scale of humanity in this vast universe: “Then you realize that nothing is absolute or guaranteed in this universe, and that there is actually such a thing as a universal standard… This standard is our world, and what we do with it is our choice.”

Life aboard a spacecraft

Life inside the spacecraft was extremely difficult. The crew had to balance experiments, navigation, monitoring systems, and constantly adapting to zero gravity.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen recalled those moments by saying: “One day, I was opening a box of raspberry granola. Victor was floating next to me, and when I opened the box, food splattered all over the spacecraft, even all over his shirt. He said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.’ So he took a spoon and simply started eating right off his shirt.”

Back to the moon

The Artemis II mission is just the beginning of a broader effort; This program aims to return humans to the Moon, establish a sustainable human presence on its surface, and build infrastructure – including a lunar base – to support long-term exploration operations. These plans are based on the Artemis Accords, a set of international principles that have already been supported by dozens of countries.

Speaking from the United Nations podium, the astronauts also directed their words to young people, encouraging them not to be afraid to ask questions, and to listen carefully to the answers.

At the conclusion of their speech, the crew members stressed that the measure of the success of the “Artemis 2” mission is not limited to the distances traveled or technological achievements only. Space gives us a perspective that allows us to see planet Earth for what it is: a unique planet, shared by all, in need of care, and at the same time capable of uniting and reuniting people.

Astronaut Reed Wiseman said: “Everyone asks me what the Earth looks like from space, and most of the time my answer is: This little Earth is an absolutely amazing place.”

Flying towards the stars

Meanwhile, a NASA aerospace engineer – who grew up in Tanzania dreaming of becoming an astronaut – previously thought achieving that dream was practically impossible.

Today, Alinda Machico is a program manager at the US Space Agency, where she helps ensure that satellites avoid collisions while orbiting, enhancing the safety and sustainability of pioneering space missions, such as the Artemis 2 mission.

In an interview we conducted with her a few days ago, Ms. Mashiko told us about her method of encouraging girls to “shoot for the stars” and pursue their dreams.