Artemis II astronauts underscore our shared humanity, in historic UN visit
Their visit on Thursday followed a long-standing tradition – cosmonauts and astronauts have been coming to the UN for decades to speak about peace, international cooperation, and our shared global future. The four-person crew carried out the farthest human spaceflight in history, travelling beyond the far side of the Moon and safely returning to Earth after 10 intense, demanding, and inspiring days. In that short time, as noted during the event, they “captured the imagination of billions” and rekindled a sense of shared human participation in the exploration of space.
Tradition and continuity The General Assembly building has long welcomed pioneers of the space age, starting with Soviet cosmonauts Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova – the first man and woman in space. Their October 1963 visit symbolised not only technological progress but also the idea that cosmos is a domain where humanity can be united. Since then, representatives of many nations have repeatedly addressed the international community, emphasising that space exploration is impossible without cooperation and shared responsibility.
UN Photo/YN
The first man and woman in space, Soviet cosmonauts Yuri Gagarin (right) and Valentina Tereshkova (left), were guests of United Nations Secretary-General U Thant (centre) at United Nations Headquarters in New York
