Whomever developed and executed the communications strategy for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the Artemis II mission should receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest award for civilians of the United States, to be awarded for "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." 

Artemis II was the NASA-led mission to fly three American and one Canadian astronauts around the moon, performing tests, surveys, and other scientific information gathering as part of the larger Artemis Program to establish a permanent base on the moon. 

The 24-hour live NASA coverage for the Artemis II mission gave the global public unprecedented access to the effort, care, and cost borne by the American people, NASA, its contractors, and the astronauts on board the spacecraft. This endeavor truly demonstrated the greatness of America, and the strength of the multinational coalition of signatories to the Artemis Accords.

The constant access to the mission presented an irrefutable challenge to the state and non-state actors who try to detract from America and her allies. Moreover, the ceaseless broadcast decimated credibility of the foreign-backed science deniers and so-called "flat-earthers." These broadcasts were used, and will continue to be used, as a tool for educators across the world to excite the next generation of scientists, technicians, mechanics, pilots, and others who will propel humanity into the stars. 

For bringing such an important and historic endeavor to the global public, the communications and media relations personnel at NASA deserve this nation's highest honor.