The Hutchinson News: Artemis II crew visit Cosmosphere, the 'best space museum in world'

Artemis II crew visit the Cosmosphere, the 'best space museum in world' The Hutchinson News | August 12, 2026 Kansas is home to the best space museum in the world, at least that's what Commander Reid Wiseman of the Artemis II mission reassured the audience gathered Aug. 11 at the Cosmosphere. Wiseman was joined by fellow Artemis II crew member Christina Koch for a visit to the museum and science center in Hutchinson, after accepting an invitation from Sen. Jerry Moran while aboard Integrity, the Orion capsule that housed the crew on its way to and from the moon in April. The astronauts joined Moran and NASA administrator Jared Isaacman for a tour of the facility, which includes the artifacts from previous American, Soviet and Russian missions in its Hall of Space museum, as well as facilities for education that were being used by camp students during the visit. Astronauts thankful for support throughout mission Following the tour, all four spoke to a crowd or around 200 who were invited to the event, including campers with the summer programs at the Cosmosphere. "Today, our astronauts represent that whole set of people that our country desperately need and provides, particularly so today," Moran said in introducing them. While the senator noted that often people look to athletes or performers as role models, the United States is privileged to have a lot of other choices as well. "I don't think being an astronaut, that there is anything more compelling or life changing than that," he said. "That's what happens when that occurs, both with adults and children." After introductions from the senator, Wiseman and Koch presented a video of the mission from launch to splashdown, speaking of the significance of it and the importance of people back on Earth, even in Kansas, in sending and bringing them home. Wiseman said this part of being a crew member on Artemis was one of the best parts of the journey. "We get to inspire the youth, get to work with the men and women working on this vehicle, the engineering support and the folks who sent us to the moon and brought us back safely," he said. Koch said the launch and splashdown were some of the more important moments to her, as it was a reminder of the people on Earth who were with them for the entirety of the mission, including those at the Cosmosphere and around the nation. "While we were on the (launchpad), you heard us say, 'We are going for our teammates,'" she said. "You may have thought we were talking about someone else, but we were also talking about you. Because the people that build lovers of space, the people that foster an industry here in aerospace and love exploring, you are our teammates." NASA head and Sen. Moran speak on importance of space funding Isaacman said the task of exploring the unknowns of space in missions like Artemis and others that NASA takes part in isn't something that is easy, or inexpensive, and having funding from resources including the federal government, is important. "There is often no obvious business case or economic return," he said. "We're going out and seeking answers to questions that we've had for a very long time. It's important that there are contributions across the nation ... for all that it might reveal for the future." Moran, who chairs the Senate Aviation, Space and Innovation Subcommittee, said he sees funding NASA as a priority. "There is the reason for public support, governmental support, taxpayer support for the exploration of space," he said. "It's not about benefiting NASA itself or benefiting Congress, but what the future of our country holds because we accomplished these outcomes." Isaacman promises Cosmosphere artifacts from Artemis Wiseman and Koch, as well as their boss Isaacman, spoke of the importance of the place that is the Cosmosphere. "Both Christian and I flew on Russian vehicles (as well as American)," Wiseman said. "To my knowledge, this is the only place where you can see the power (of both). You can look through the Russian side and the American side of space travel. It's special to be able to relive the entire space journey under one roof." Isaacman, who visited the museum during the Artemis II mission, said the Cosmosphere is one of the best places that honors preserves the history of spaceflight. "In the years ahead, artifacts from the Artemis mission will arrive here to take a place of honor next to those of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo," he said. "To all of you, especially the young folks here, continue to stay curious, keep visiting, keep exploring and never forget the greatest days of exploration are ahead of us."