By: Hal C Clarke

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is weighing whether New York City should honor the Artemis II astronauts with a ticker-tape parade down Broadway—but is signaling the celebration may hinge on NASA covering the cost, according to reporting by the NY Post.

The proposal centers on commemorating the NASA mission that marked humanity’s return to deep space exploration, with the Artemis II crew completing a historic lunar flyby and setting a new distance record for human space travel.

As the NY Post reported, Mamdani told reporters his administration has begun reviewing the logistics of staging a parade in the Canyon of Heroes. However, he stressed that funding remains a key issue, noting that such celebrations are typically paid for by the entity being honored rather than taxpayers.

“I think typically ticker-tape parades have been funded by the organization or the entity that’s being celebrated,” Mamdani said, as reported by the NY Post, adding that the city is still working through the financial structure of the potential event.

The idea follows calls from City Council members urging the mayor to formally recognize the Artemis II crew with a public celebration similar to past astronaut honors, including the iconic Apollo 11 parade in 1969.

As the NY Post reported, lawmakers argue the Artemis II mission—carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—represents a rare unifying achievement and deserves a citywide celebration.

Mamdani has not committed to moving forward yet, but acknowledged the mission’s significance, describing it as an “incredible” accomplishment that highlighted humanity’s shared progress in space exploration, according to the NY Post.

The Artemis II flight itself marked a milestone for NASA, sending astronauts farther from Earth than any previous crewed mission and completing a lunar flyby without landing on the surface.

City officials are now weighing costs, logistics, and precedent. The last major ticker-tape parade in New York celebrated the New York Liberty’s WNBA championship, which reportedly required significant private contribution to offset expenses, as the NY Post reported.

Supporters of the Artemis parade argue it would echo historic moments in the city’s past, when astronauts returning from Apollo missions were greeted by massive crowds in Lower Manhattan. Critics, however, point to budget concerns and competing priorities.

For now, the proposal remains under review, with no final decision announced. As the NY Post reported, the mayor’s office continues to evaluate whether the city will move forward with planning or require federal participation in funding before committing to the event.

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