Trump honors Artemis II astronauts at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston
HOUSTON, Texas -- The Artemis II crew received big recognition from President Donald Trump on Friday.
The four-person crew received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor during a ceremony held at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, completed a 10-day mission around the moon back in April, marking the first time humans returned to the moon in more than 50 years.
READ MORE: Artemis II crew still adjusting to Earth, reflect on landmark lunar mission around the moon
During Friday's event, Trump signed an executive order to start the "U.S. Space Academy."
Congress authorized the Space Medal of Honor in 1969.
"The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of appropriate design, which shall be known as the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, to any astronaut who in the performance of his duties has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and of mankind," the text of the law says.
In 1978, the first recipients of the honor included Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Pete Conrad, John Glenn, Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Alan Shepard.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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