Artemis II Astronauts Win Stephen Hawking Medal
Four Artemis II Moon astronauts have received the prestigious Stephen Hawking Medal for inspiring students around the globe with science and teamwork.
Four brave space explorers heading toward the Moon have received a sparkling tribute on Earth! On 17 October 2026, the four Artemis II astronauts were honoured with the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a lovely island city in Spain’s Canary Islands.
The presentation took place during the grand opening ceremony of the Starmus VIII festival at the city’s Plaza de España. These astronauts were celebrated not just for preparing to journey into deep space, but for explaining lunar science and the power of teamwork to millions of schoolchildren and viewers across the globe.
What happened?
The Artemis II crew is made up of NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. Commander Wiseman, Pilot Glover, and Specialist Hansen walked onto the stage in person to collect the grand medal, while Specialist Koch shared in the celebration.
This special year marks the tenth anniversary of the Stephen Hawking Medal. Over the last decade, this honour has been presented to legendary figures such as Moon explorer Buzz Aldrin, chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall, and famous wildlife presenter Sir David Attenborough. Renowned British filmmaker Sir Ridley Scott was also awarded a Stephen Hawking Medal during the festival.
The Starmus festival is a unique gathering that brings science, art, and music together. It was co-founded by astrophysicist Garik Israelian and rock musician and astrophysicist Sir Brian May. Before the evening award ceremony, the astronauts visited La Candelaria square to launch a public Science Camp. They met many curious young science lovers and their families. Astronaut Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen spoke warmly about overcoming fears, handling uncertainty, and the great importance of teamwork when solving massive challenges.
Why does it matter to you?
Have you ever worked on a tricky group project with your classmates in school? Or perhaps you felt nervous before a big exam or a football match? Hearing real space explorers talk about fear and uncertainty shows us that everyone feels worried sometimes. What makes astronauts successful is not working alone, but learning to trust their team and asking questions when they need help.
This award also shows that doing science is only half the journey; sharing your discoveries with others is just as important. When astronauts explain how lunar missions work, they help boys and girls everywhere imagine what is possible. Whether you dream of joining a space programme, coding computer games, or protecting nature, developing curiosity and speaking clearly about your ideas will help you reach your goals.
Words to know
- Science communication: The skill of explaining complex scientific ideas in a clear way that anyone can understand and enjoy.
- Mission Specialist: A trained astronaut on a space crew who runs scientific experiments and handles spacecraft systems.
- Astrophysicist: A scientist who studies stars, planets, and the physical rules of the universe.
- Uncertainty: A feeling of being unsure about what will happen next.
Did you know?
The Starmus festival was co-founded by Sir Brian May, who is not only a world-famous rock guitarist but also a real scientist with a doctoral degree in astrophysics!
Think about it
If you attended the Science Camp with the Artemis II crew, what question would you ask them about travelling toward the Moon? How can working closely with your classmates help you overcome a difficult problem in your daily life?
Quick quiz
Where did the Artemis II crew receive the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication?
- Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Kennedy Space Center in Florida
- New Delhi in India
See the answer
Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Sources
- thesciencesignal.com
- ground.news
- collectspace.com
- tenerifeweekly.com
- eigenradar.com
- finanznachrichten.de
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
