NASA astronaut Victor Glover, pilot of the Artemis II mission, delivered a heartfelt message moments before the spacecraft entered a 40-minute communication blackout during its lunar flyby. His words, shared via NASA’s livestream, have since gone viral on social media.
Glover, alongside astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, is part of the historic Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1 and marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. The mission aims to test systems for future lunar landings as part of NASA’s long-term Artemis program.
Glover’s Message
In his final transmission before losing contact with Earth, Glover emphasized the importance of love, referencing the teachings of Jesus Christ. He stated, 'As we get close to the nearest point to the moon and farthest point from Earth, as we continue to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, I would like to remind you of one of the most important mysteries there on Earth, and that’s love.'
He continued, 'Christ said, in response to what was the greatest commandment, that it was to love God with all that you are. And he, also being a great teacher, said the second is equal to it, and that is to love your neighbor as yourself.' Glover concluded by expressing gratitude for the support from Earth, saying, 'To all of you down there on Earth and around Earth, we love you from the moon…we will see you on the other side.'
Public Reaction
Glover’s message has resonated widely, with social media users praising his words. A clip of his transmission shared on Threads by user @melodyinthemaking has amassed over 170,000 views. Meanwhile, Glover’s daughter, Maya Glover, also went viral on TikTok for a dance celebrating her father’s mission, which has garnered 10.4 million views.
Mission Context
The Artemis II mission is a critical step toward NASA’s goal of returning humans to the lunar surface. The crew is currently on a 10-day journey around the moon, testing the Orion spacecraft’s systems before future missions, including Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2026.