The Artemis II crew has spoken for the first time since their record-breaking journey to the far side of the moon and dramatic reentry. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.
The mission sent humans farther from Earth than ever before, reaching 252,760 miles from our planet, surpassing the Apollo 13 record. The Orion spacecraft swung around the far side of the moon, allowing the crew to see never-before-seen regions.
Commander Wiseman stated he had "absolutely no idea what to say," while pilot Glover admitted, "I have not processed what we just did." The profound experience left a deep impression on the astronauts.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman lauded the mission's impact, thanking the crew "for showing us the moon again" and "planet Earth again." The mission marked the first trip to the moon since 1972.
Christina Koch described the vast blackness surrounding Earth as a "lifeboat hanging undisturbingly in the universe." She also recounted simple human moments bookending the journey, from a whispered "we're going for launch" to a nurse asking, "Ma'am, can I get a hug?"
Hansen emphasized that beyond scientific knowledge, the mission's biggest takeaway is a renewed perspective on shared humanity and our home planet. Wiseman echoed this, calling it "a special thing to be a human, and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth."
NASA is now preparing for Artemis III, expected in 2027, and subsequent missions targeting lunar landings, continuing America's return to the moon.