20 July 2026 00:00 UTC · The White House · White House Statement · Source · Email X Link

The White House commemorates Apollo legacy, pledges US space leadership

Key points

Commemorates Apollo Moon landing
Affirms continued US leadership in space exploration

TL;DR

Commemorates the July 20, 1969 Apollo Moon landing and its legacy
Highlights Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian partner Jeremy Hansen
Says Artemis missions will return American astronauts to the Moon, establish a human presence, and lay the foundation to reach Mars
Highlights the United States Space Force and reestablishing the National Space Council as foundations of American strength in space

Original text

On Space Exploration Day, we commemorate one of the greatest achievements in the history of our Republic: landing Americansupon the surface of the Moon. Inspired by that giant leap, welook ahead with bold resolve, certain that America will continue to lead humanity into a new Golden Age of space exploration. On July 20, 1969, the genius, grit, and determination of the American People carried Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins a quarter-million miles across the expanse of space to answer the call of destiny—planting the Stars and Stripes on a celestial body no human had ever touched before. In that extraordinary moment, and time and again in the missions that followed, American astronauts achieved what the world had once thought impossible, proving that no frontier lies beyond the reach of a free and unwavering people. Fifty-sevenyears later, the legacy of Apollo still burns in the hearts of all Americans, calling each generation to reach higher into the cosmos than the last. My Administration is carrying that torch forward with incredible resolve. This spring, American astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, joined by Canadian partner Jeremy Hansen, soared into deep space aboard Artemis II for the first time in over 50 years, turning our gaze once more toward the Moon. Their triumph has propelled us toward the Artemismissions, which will return American astronauts to the Moon, establish a human presence, and lay the foundation to reach the red dunes of Mars and the boundless frontier beyond, where American courage will discover what none have ever dared to imagine. This new era rests upon a foundation of unrivaled American strength in space. The same brilliance that carries our astronauts to the Moon also powers our incredible United States Space Force, whose innovative technology shields every American family while safeguarding our Nation’s national security from above. During my first term, I was proud to reestablish the National Space Council, charting a unified national strategy that brings together our military, our scientists, and our industrial titans—including the Guardians of our Space Force—behind a single purpose: securing American dominance in space for all time to come. Under my leadership, America will continue to push beyond every boundary and lead the world ever deeper into the universe. Having just marked 250 glorious years of American Independence, our Nation carries forward the same fearless American Spirit that knows no limit, whether on Earth or in the frontier beyond. The courage that first carried us to the Moon 57 years ago today now drives us toward new triumphs, calling America’s boldest to lead all mankind into a new age of discovery. Together, we will write the next great chapter in the history of manned spaceflight, and the United States of America will once again lead among the stars.

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