What Has the Artemis II Crew Been up To? A Dog Video, Thanking Families, and Sentimental Speeches
The world watched for 10 days as the Artemis II expedition launched from Earth and orbited around to the dark side of the moon. Going farther than any human in history, the crew made headlines daily. But now that they're safely back on the Earth, what are these astronauts up to?
Whether you're a superfan of space flight or just curious about these instant-celebs, you want to know how the four-person crew reunited with their kids, families, and even pets after their historic mission.
NASA astronaut and electrical engineer Christina Koch is a parent…that is, a pet parent. The crew member recently made headlines after a viral homecoming video surfaced on Instagram. And while she's the only one of the four who doesn't have human kiddos, her fur baby greeted her with as much gusto as an energetic tween.
The video, taken from inside Koch's home, shows her playful pup, Sadie, scratching at the door and barking. In all the excitement, Sadie rushes to pick up a toy and carries it to Christina. Next, the dog-mom gleefully gushes over the dog, dropping to her knees for a furry hug.
Koch also gives her public an update on how life's going now that she's back on solid land. In another clip, the astronaut and Sadie chase each other through the waves at the edge of a sandy beach. Of course, she didn't only include videos and a pic. Christina also writes a sweetly sentimental caption, "I'm still pretty sure I was the happier side of this reunion. Sadie taught me everything I needed to know about being an emotional support animal. Didn't expect that would come in handy."
How did Koch's crewmates greet their human kiddos? Commander Reid Wiseman recently posted a selfie (on Instagram) with his two daughters, Ellie and Katy. The simple caption, "Mission complete," says it all.
Fans and famous friends applauded the dad, showering him with praise. Former Today host Katie Couric commented, "I'm so inspired by your story, your girls, and the way you've honored your wonderful wife. Thank you for being a model of compassion and integrity when both are so sorely needed." Along with well-wishes and accolades for the commander, another comment kind of says it all: "Our favorite girl dad."
In their first public appearance after landing, the NASA astronauts spoke about the mission, with Wiseman saying, "No one knows what the families went through, man. This was not easy. Being 200,000-plus miles away from home…and when you're out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends.
Fellow crew member Victor Glover added to Wiseman's statement, "I wanted to thank our families for everything he just said…I love you, but not just those five beautiful cocoa-skinned ladies right there. All of you." And yes, he was talking about his wife Dionna Glover and their four daughters.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen also spoke at the welcome home event, saying, "I'll start with gratitude for my family." Hansen's family includes his wife, Catherine, and three children, Devon, Ashley, and Katelyn."
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 12:26 PM.