04/11/2026
From the deck of every vessel that has ever set sail , Today we celebrate a voyage like no other.
Today, the Orion spacecraft, a steadfast vessel of human ingenuity, completes her epic journey, splashing down safely in the Pacific after guiding the Artemis II crew on a long voyage around the Moon.
This was no ordinary passage, the first crewed deep-space mission in over fifty years, a true odyssey through the cosmic seas where four brave astronauts, NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, NASA Pilot Victor Glover (the first Black astronaut to travel around the Moon and one of the few humans ever to reach the farthest distance from Earth), NASA Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen , pushed beyond the horizon of what we once thought possible.
Like the great sailing ships of old that left safe harbors for unknown waters, Orion carried her crew 694,000 miles across the vast emptiness, looping past the lunar far side before turning homeward. They navigated the void with the same courage and precision that mariners have always relied upon: charts of the stars, trust in their ship, and an unbreakable bond as one crew. From the moment they cast off from Earth orbit, they faced the trials of deep space, and today, after that long voyage through the heavens, they return to safe shores once more. The U.S. Navy recovery teams and the mighty USS John P. Murtha stand ready at the splashdown site off San Diego, just as harbor pilots and support ships have always welcomed home the weary traveler with open arms and steady hands.
This moment speaks to the heart of exploration itself. It unites Us every Sailor, Mariner , every dreamer, every soul on this blue planet, in wonder and shared pride.
Americans and our Canadian partners worked as one, showing the world that when we set aside division and sail together toward the unknown, there are no limits. The Moon is no longer a distant lighthouse. it is our next port of call, the gateway to Mars, to the stars, and to a future written in the language of courage and curiosity.
From the rivers and lakes of Illinois where we keep boats seaworthy and ready for their own voyages, we see the same spirit in every hull and vessel we service preparation, resilience, and the quiet joy of a safe travel and return. Today’s splashdown reminds us all why we answer the call of the sea, whether the sea is made of water or the infinite black of space. The Artemis II crew, Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen has shown us the way forward, bold voyages lead to brighter horizons.
May God, who stretched out the heavens and set the stars in their courses, bless this crew and every hand that guided Orion home. May His grace steady our future journeys, protect those who sail into the unknown, and inspire generations yet to come to explore His magnificent creation with humility, unity, and unyielding hope.
The voyage continues. The future belongs to those who dare to leave port.
