Amaze, Mission Control said to Artemis 2's Moon pic; Project Hail Mary approved

As Commander Reid Wiseman aboard Artemis 2 described the Moon, Mission Control chimed in with Rocky's iconic "Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!" from Project Hail Mary.

In Short

• Mission Control used a popular phrase from Project Hail Mary during Artemis II
• Commander Wiseman shared a vivid description of Moon and Earth views
• The phrase 'Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!' expresses excitement and wonder

NASA’s Artemis 2 broadcast had everything, history, scale, awe, and then, unexpectedly, a pop culture mic drop. As Commander Reid Wiseman described the Moon, Mission Control chimed in with Rocky’s iconic “Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!” from Project Hail Mary.

Somewhere between hardcore space science and pure fandom, the Moon flyby just got a whole lot more fun.

The exchange happened during NASA’s official broadcast as the crew looped around the Moon, venturing farther from Earth than any human before. Commander Reid Wiseman, clearly awestruck, described the surreal view outside his window:

“We just realised we have Earth at window four and the Moon at window three, and it gives you the best idea of scale we have had yet. The Moon is about three to four times the size of the Earth, and it is almost full, and the Earth is just a small crescent out there. It’s magnificent - I got a picture of it with the wide lens. Such a majestic view out here.”

To which Mission Control replied, almost like excited fans on a group chat: “Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! Thank you, Reid.”

Check out the video:

For those in the know, this wasn’t just enthusiasm, it was a delightful Easter egg from Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. In the novel (and its film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling), the phrase is famously used by Rocky, an alien from the Eridian species.

Rocky, who communicates in musical tones, learns human language in fragments. And when he’s thrilled, whether by discovery, friendship, or sheer scientific wonder, he exclaims, “Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!” It becomes his signature expression of joy, curiosity, and childlike excitement at the universe.

What makes this moment special is how seamlessly fiction and reality collided. Here were real astronauts, on a real mission, witnessing a view so profound that it echoed the emotional core of a sci-fi story. And back on Earth, scientists responded not with sheer professionalism, but with a wink to a shared cultural moment.

Sure, Artemis 2 is a critical step towards getting humans back on the Moon. But thanks to Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, it’s also giving us something far more relatable, proof that even in the most advanced missions, there’s room for awe, humour, and a perfectly timed nerdy reference.

- Ends