Artemis II photo of the Earth setting behind the lunar surface (Image credit: NASA)
Artemis II is the first crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis program, using the Orion spacecraft to carry four astronauts around the Moon and back, the first step to establishing a long-term presence on the Moon.
On April 6, 2026, the astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history—breaking the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. They sailed around the far side of the Moon, photographing lunar features never before seen by human eyes. At their closest point, they passed roughly 4,000 miles above the lunar surface.
Artemis II astronaut and Orion spacecraft pilot Victor Glover publicly shared the gospel during the lunar mission, delivering multiple faith‑centered messages while traveling around the Moon and looking back at Earth from space.
Glover’s most explicit gospel statements occurred during the mission’s Easter weekend broadcasts and just before the crew lost communication on the far side of the Moon. When asked if he had any Easter reflections, he responded with an impromptu message about God’s creation, human purpose, and the teachings of Jesus.
During the lunar flyby passing behind the Moon just before the spacecraft lost radio contact, Glover quoted Jesus Christ on the greatest commandment—loving one’s neighbor as yourself. These messages were broadcast to mission control, media outlets, and the public.
What He Said (Key Themes)
- God’s creation and Earth’s special place in the universe
- The teachings of Jesus, especially the commands to love God and neighbor
- Humanity’s shared identity and need for unity
Glover’s career is a rare example of someone who openly integrates deep scientific expertise with deep spiritual conviction. He describes Christianity as the foundation that has shaped his discipline, courage, and sense of purpose throughout his military and NASA service. His own words across multiple interviews make it clear that he sees no separation between his work in space and his walk with God. His faith is the engine behind his courage, the lens through which he sees the universe, and the compass guiding his leadership and humility.
How Astronauts Have Expressed Faith in Space
- Victor Glover (ISS & Artemis II)
- Brought communion cups to the ISS during his 2020–21 mission.
- Reads the Bible during missions.
- Participated in virtual worship services from orbit.
- Posted photos from space that reminded him of Scripture.
- Said his career is “built on a foundation of faith” and that he prays before every risky task.
- Butch Wilmore (ISS Commander)
- Strongly affirms the inerrancy of Scripture.
- Says the Bible is “absolutely true” and accurate where it speaks to science.
- His time in space reinforced his belief in God’s design and sovereignty.
- Jeffrey Williams (534 days in space)
- Spent more than a year and a half in orbit.
- Frequently spoke about the “grandeur” of Earth as God’s creation.
- Said the view from space strengthened his belief that Earth is uniquely designed by God.
- Believes science is best understood “through the biblical lens.”
- Charlie Duke (Apollo 16 Moonwalker)
- One of only 12 humans to walk on the Moon.
- Seeing Earth rise from the lunar surface reminded him of Job 26:7 (“He suspends the Earth upon nothing”).
- Described the Earth as a “jewel suspended in the blackness of space.”
- Said the experience deepened his conviction that God created the universe.
- Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11 Moonwalker)
- An elder at Webster Presbyterian Church in Texas.
- Performed the first Christian communion on the Moon using small vial of wine and a wafer, consecrated by his pastor before launch.
- Read a passage from the Gospel of John.
- This was during the Apollo 11 mission, inside the Eagle lunar module, on the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility, shortly after landing on July 20, 1969.
NASA and Religion
NASA has historically allowed astronauts to practice their personal faith in space, but it maintains a strict separation between the agency and any official religious endorsement. This principle became especially important after the Apollo 8 controversy. Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders took turns reading Genesis 1:1-10 from the King James Bible while orbiting the Moon on December 24, 1968, during a live Christmas Eve broadcast from lunar orbit—the first time humans ever orbited the Moon.
The moment is remembered as one of the most powerful intersections of space exploration and human reflection. It became the most-watched television broadcast of its time, with an estimated one billion viewers across 64 countries. NASA had only instructed the crew to say something “appropriate.” An atheist activist sued NASA, nevertheless, claiming that reading from Genesis on-air violated the First Amendment. The case was dismissed, but NASA became more cautious afterward due to concerns about religious controversy.
Christians in Space
Still, astronauts like Glover, Williams, Duke, and Wilmore have openly and publicly shared how space strengthened their faith. Many astronauts pray before launches, spacewalks, or during quiet moments in orbit. Victor Glover said: “Anytime I do something risky, I pray—before I fly, every time I fly, definitely when you go sit on top of a rocket ship.” Other astronauts have also taken communion privately during missions.
For Christian astronauts, space travel provides a unique perspective on the universe. Nearly all describe the view of Earth as spiritually overwhelming. They often connect the experience to Scripture about creation, order, and God’s majesty. Many speak at churches, schools, and conferences after returning.
Christian astronauts demonstrate that faith and science can coexist, offering inspiration to believers and anyone interested in space exploration. “They don’t actually work against each other like some people like to claim that they do,” said Victor Glover. Indeed, modern science increasingly supports Christian theism.
