NASA launches 4 astronauts on historic moon mission on Artemis II spaceship, and the Black pilot will become the first Black man to fly around the moon...Ohio congresswoman Emilia Sykes comments on the launch...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital newsleader

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

 By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida-The NASA Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, successfully launched its Artemis II rocketship at 6:35 pm on April 1, 2026, as the world watched in amusement, its first human mission of the sort in nearly 50 years, and since Apollo 17, which launched on Dec. 7, 1972.

Wednesday's launch continues the competition between the United States and Russia, and puts the world on notice that the U.S. intends to stay in the space game.

Launched by the Soviet Union on Oct. 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 was the world's first artificial satellite, marking the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Space Race. 

The Artemis II spaceship took off for space with four astronauts aboard, three Americans and one Canadian.  They are Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover Jr., and Mission Specialists Christina Koch  (NASA) and Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency). They will conduct a 10-day, first-crewed flight around the moon.

Notably, Glover, as the pilot, will become the first Black man to fly around the moon.

"Artemis II is an exciting step forward and a reminder that America's leadership in space is built on decades of innovation, including the extraordinary contributions of Ohioans," said Ohio Congresswoman Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat and one of three Black women in Congress from Ohio. "From Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Jim Lovell, and Judith Resnik, to the work happening today at the NASA Glenn Research Center, Ohio has always helped lead the way." 

Rep.Sykes is a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight.

"While in Congress," the congresswoman said, "I'm focused on supporting that legacy, strengthening the workforce, investing in new technologies, and making sure missions like Artemis II deliver for the American people."

 

Rep. Sykes is the only Ohioan serving on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which oversees the nation's civilian space program and helps shape the future of NASA.

Following the successful launch of the Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, President Donald Trump issued several statements praising the achievement as a historic milestone for the United States.

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• Social Media Comments: On Truth Social, Trump declared, "We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between — Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS". He described the mission as a "powerful statement" of America's return to deep space.
• National Address: During a Wednesday night address to the nation, Trump congratulated NASA and the crew, saying, "God bless those four unbelievable astronauts". He highlighted that "America is going back to the Moon" for the first time in over 50 years.
• Message to the Crew: He specifically praised the "brave" crew members—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—for their courage on the 10-day journey around the Moon.
• Future Vision: Trump framed the mission as an "America First" opportunity, expressing hope that it would inspire the next generation and help "bring the country together". 

While he was highly supportive during the launch, he had previously faced some criticism for not mentioning the mission or its crew during his State of the Union address in February 2026, despite the astronauts being in attendance. 

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com are the most-read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and the Midwest. Tel. 216-659-0473. Email-editor@clevelandurbannews.com.