Feb 23, 2026 - Politics & Policy

Mike Johnson's SOTU guest list

Kate Santaliz

Four astronauts in orange NASA spacesuits standing in front of a blue banner with the word "ARTEMIS" visible, three men and one woman, with the woman smiling and waving. — Artemis II lunar mission astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., in December. Photo: Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images

House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) guests at the State of the Union on Tuesday night will include the crew of NASA's Artemis II lunar spaceflight mission, Axios has learned.

The big picture: Lawmakers often use their guest lists to raise visibility for priorities and causes that are important to them and their districts.

Johnson wants to highlight Louisiana's manufacturing role in the Artemis program and draw attention to the upcoming mission, which centers on a return to the Moon.
The rocket stage was constructed at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, also known as "America's Rocket Factory."

Driving the news: "It is my privilege to welcome these brave and courageous astronauts as my guests at the State of the Union Address," Johnson said in a statement first shared with Axios.

Johnson said the crew — commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — "will embark on this historic journey carrying forward the hopes and dreams of all humanity."

The details: Artemis II will take the four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby this year as NASA eyes its next chapter of space exploration, including a long-term presence on the Moon and future trips to Mars.

It's the first time in more than 50 years that NASA will be sending astronauts around the Moon.

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Mike Johnson's SOTU guest list

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