S.Res. 695

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 695 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 695

Commemorating April 6, 2026, as the day the Artemis II crew surpassed 
the record for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts into deep 
space and celebrating the success of the Artemis II mission.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 28, 2026

Mr. Cruz (for himself and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to

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RESOLUTION

Commemorating April 6, 2026, as the day the Artemis II crew surpassed 
the record for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts into deep 
space and celebrating the success of the Artemis II mission.

Whereas, on April 1, 2026, the Artemis II mission launched successfully aboard 
the Space Launch System rocket from the John F. Kennedy Space Center in 
Florida, marking a significant milestone in the efforts to return humans 
to the Moon and advance deep space exploration;
Whereas National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts Commander Reid 
Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and 
Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (referred to in 
this preamble as the ``Artemis II crew'') demonstrated exceptional 
skill, courage, and dedication in carrying out the historic Artemis II 
mission;
Whereas the Artemis II crew traveled aboard the Orion spacecraft named 
Integrity, which represents the enduring values of exploration, 
teamwork, and scientific discovery;
Whereas, on April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew surpassed the record set by the 
Apollo 13 mission for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts from 
Earth, achieving a new milestone in human spaceflight;
Whereas Integrity eventually reached a maximum distance of 252,760 miles from 
Earth, surpassing the previous record of 248,655 miles set in 1970 and 
setting a new benchmark for crewed spaceflight;
Whereas the Artemis II mission represents a number of historic firsts in crewed 
space exploration, including the first woman, first African American, 
and first non-United States astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit;
Whereas the Artemis II mission was the first human journey to the vicinity of 
the Moon in more than 50 years;
Whereas this achievement reflects decades of sustained investment and leadership 
by the United States, in partnership with both the Canadian Space Agency 
and the European Space Agency, and the contributions of thousands of 
engineers, scientists, and skilled workers;
Whereas the Artemis effort is a partnership among government, industry, and 
international partners that involves more than 2,700 companies across 
the country whose collective expertise and coordination enabled 
successful execution of the Artemis II mission, demonstrating the 
strength of cooperative space exploration;
Whereas the Artemis II mission was managed from Mission Control and the Mission 
Evaluation Room at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, 
where flight controllers, engineers, and support teams ensured the 
safety and success of the mission;
Whereas, on April 10, 2026, at 5:07 p.m. Pacific time, the Artemis II crew 
safely returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the 
coast of San Diego, California;
Whereas following splashdown, the United States Navy, with support from the 
United States Coast Guard, conducted recovery operations and 
successfully retrieved the Artemis II crew and spacecraft aboard the USS 
John P. Murtha (LPD-26);
Whereas the Artemis II mission showcased the economic and technological strength 
of the United States, which is supported by a highly skilled workforce 
and generates innovation across multiple sectors of the economy; and
Whereas the success of the Artemis II mission has inspired people around the 
world, rekindling a shared sense of wonder, possibility, and unity and 
reaffirming the commitment of the United States to peaceful exploration, 
scientific advancement, and international collaboration in space: Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) commemorates April 6, 2026, as the day the Artemis II 
crew surpassed the record set by Apollo 13 for the farthest 
distance traveled by astronauts into deep space;
(2) celebrates the successful completion of the Artemis II 
mission, including its launch, historic journey, and safe 
return to Earth;
(3) honors the achievements and service of Reid Wiseman, 
Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen;
(4) celebrates technological and manufacturing excellence 
led by the United States as showcased by the successful Artemis 
II mission;
(5) recognizes the critical contributions of the flight 
controllers, engineers, contractors, and support personnel, 
particularly those at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, who 
ensured mission success;
(6) commends the employees of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, the Canadian Space Agency, and all 
industry and international partners whose efforts made the 
Artemis II mission possible; and
(7) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
maintaining leadership in space exploration and advancing the 
peaceful use of space for the benefit of all humanity.
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