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On Monday, four astronauts on the Artemis II mission slipped behind the Moon — and, in doing so, traveled farther from Earth than any prior human being in history.
They also, unfortunately, experienced one of the most skin-crawlingly awkward interactions in the entire solar system.
During their trip behind the Moon, which brought them 248,655 miles from Earth, the Integrity spacecraft lost contact with ground control in an expected communication blackout that lasted roughly 40 minutes. When they reemerged, the crew — NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — reestablished contact to celebrate.
Those festivities took an awkward turn, though, when president Trump hopped on the call.
“You’ve made history and made all America really proud,” Trump began.
It was a fine start. But after he lavished praise on Hansen, perhaps to help smooth over strained Canadian-US relations, the astronauts seemed to have nothing to say in response.
“I spoke to your prime minister and many other friends I have in Canada. They are so proud of you,” Trump said.
But Hansen didn’t respond verbally — and neither did any of his compatriots.
And the silence dragged.
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