The Artemis II crew is set to return to Earth, bringing back "all the good stuff" from their groundbreaking mission around the Moon. NASA confirmed the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego late Friday evening.
NASA
Mission pilot Victor Glover stated the crew has "many more pictures, so many more stories" to share, highlighting the significant data and experiences gathered during their flight. The mission achieved a new record for human space travel, journeying further from Earth than any previous crew.
The Orion spacecraft flew around the far side of the Moon, offering astronauts a unique perspective of its surface, including craters and lava plains. Commander Reid Wiseman noted the mission's scientific importance, particularly "lunar observations for our geology team," and shared a moment of reflection with the crew over cookies.
For Glover, witnessing a lunar eclipse from beyond the far side of the Moon was the "greatest gift." The crew faced challenges, including periods of lost communication, but emphasized that the risks and sacrifices are "all worth it" for continued exploration.
The astronauts now face a critical re-entry, a fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere at nearly 25,000 mph, followed by a parachute splashdown in the Pacific Ocean to test the capsule's heatshield and recovery systems.