Artemis II Astronauts Reflect on Historic Lunar Flyby: 'An Unbelievable Sight'

The Artemis II astronauts are returning to Earth, beginning to process their nine-day mission that took them beyond the Moon. Commander Reid Wiseman described the experience of seeing Earth disappear behind the Moon as "an unbelievable sight." Flying over a quarter-million miles from home, the crew entered a 40-minute radio blackout, sharing maple cookies and reflecting on their journey.

Pilot Victor Glover called the mission's lunar eclipse, where the Moon blocked the Sun, one of the "greatest gifts," noting the "strangest-looking thing" and the stark view of the Moon's terminator. The crew captured images, including a view of Earth appearing as a crescent.

Mission specialist Christina Koch noted the unique camaraderie within the Orion spacecraft, a capsule larger than the Apollo command module. A poignant moment for Wiseman was naming a crater for his late wife, an emotional experience that bonded the crew. The mission, the first human trip to the Moon since 1972, serves as a test flight for future lunar landings and base construction. The crew now faces reentry and splashdown, a critical phase of the mission.