Astronauts on the recent Artemis II mission are offering a rare glimpse into how seeing Earth from deep space is stirring something far deeper than science. It is awakening a sense of wonder that points straight to the Creator.
Commander Reid Wiseman, who has traveled more than 250,000 miles to the moon and back, described one of the most emotional moments of his life not in orbit, but after returning home.
“I’m not really a religious person but there was no other avenue for me to explain anything or experience anything,” Wiseman said. “So I asked for the chaplain on the Navy ship to just come visit us for a minute. When that man walked in … I saw the cross on his collar and I just broke down in tears.”
NEW: Astronaut Reid Wiseman, who says he is not religious, says he broke down in tears when he saw the Cross after getting back to Earth.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 16, 2026
Wiseman: "I'm not really a religious person, but there was just no other avenue for me to explain anything…"
Victor Glover: "The only… pic.twitter.com/flMuawwJzv
For a man who does not claim faith, the experience left him searching for language beyond science. He described the mission as “other-worldly and amazing,” admitting it is “very hard to fully grasp what we just went through.”
Yet Wiseman was not alone in that response. Pilot Victor Glover, an outspoken Christian, said his experience aligned completely.
“The only thing I would add is I am a religious person, but everything else is the same,” Glover said.
That unity between belief and disbelief speaks volumes. Whether approaching space with faith or without it, both men encountered the same overwhelming reality.
Order Amanda Grace’s New Book, “Brace For Impact” on Amazon.com!
During the 10-day mission, the crew witnessed Earth appearing to set behind the moon, a rare solar eclipse and the vast depth of the galaxy stretching into darkness. Wiseman recalled one moment in particular: “I don’t think humanity has evolved to the point of being able to comprehend what we are looking at right now.”
Astronauts have long described this phenomenon as the Overview Effect, a shift in perspective that brings awe, humility and a deeper awareness of humanity’s place in creation. From that vantage point, Earth is no longer divided by borders or politics. It is fragile, suspended in the vastness of space.
The Artemis II crew, which also includes Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, set a new record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth. Their mission tested the Orion spacecraft ahead of future lunar landings, with NASA aiming to return astronauts to the moon’s surface by 2028.
But beyond the technical milestones, something else is becoming clear. When men and women step outside the boundaries of Earth and gaze back at creation from the edge of the cosmos, the response is often the same.
Awe. Wonder. And a recognition that what they are seeing cannot be explained by science alone.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
