Watch: Artemis astronaut’s loving gesture to family goes viral; he lost wife to cancer in 2020

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) launched its Artemis II Moon Mission on Thursday (April 2, IST), which marks the biggest space mission in over 50 years and a big day for the space organisation.

All eyes were set on the mission which will be landing its four-crew member near the moon for the first time.

Liftoff.

The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon.

Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars. pic.twitter.com/ENQA4RTqAc

— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026

The liftoff took place from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida from launch pad 39B. The four astronauts who are on board are Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen.

As Commander Reid Wiseman made his way toward the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center, he paused. Looking toward his two daughters, he made a small, loving gesture—one that carried the weight of everything he had been through.

Wiseman lost his wife to cancer in 2020. In that fleeting second, before the world turned its gaze skyward, the mission became something deeply personal.

Watch the video here: 

Four astronauts are set to launch on Artemis II, the first crewed moon mission in decades. On the walk to the launchpad, Mission Commander Reid Wiseman shared an emotional moment with his two daughters.

Follow live updates on the launch: https://t.co/2MhIFEj69z pic.twitter.com/dj14bjzZei

— CNN (@CNN) April 1, 2026

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Soon after, the countdown resumed its rhythm.

‘We all go for humanity’

Inside mission control, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson — the first woman to to hold the position at Nasa — delivered the final words every astronaut waits for: “You are going for launch.”

Wiseman’s response was calm, almost understated:
“We go for all humanity.”

Crowds gathered in thousands, many having waited hours after delays caused by technical issues, including concerns with the flight termination system and a battery component.

Before the lift off, there was some issue with the flight termination system and a separate battery system which delayed the launch but soon after the launch, the Space Launch System rose slowly, almost hesitantly, before gathering power twin pillars of flame tearing through the night.

The sound built into a deep, physical thunder, felt even miles away. On the ground, crowds cheered, some with tears in their eyes, others simply staring upward, caught between disbelief and pride.

What remained was the feeling: that this wasn’t just a launch. It was a return, a memory, and a promise all at once.