Artemis II astronauts return from historic lunar flyby, describe profound experience
Artemis II astronauts completed historic lunar flyby, returning to Earth after 10-day mission that marked first human journey around Moon in over half a century. The four astronauts—Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen—set record for farthest distance from Earth during their journey, now cruising toward Pacific Ocean splashdown.
Commander Reid Wiseman described the experience as 'a true gift' that they 'still need to think about and journal' to fully process. Victor Glover noted they 'haven't even begun to process what we've been through' and mentioned the upcoming 'fireball' re-entry. Koch emphasized the extraordinary camaraderie of their shared mission, calling it 'a privilege we will never have again' despite tight quarters and even a malfunctioning toilet.
The astronauts witnessed extraordinary phenomena including a solar eclipse that left Wiseman 'in chills' with 'sweating palms.' Hansen gained cosmic perspective: 'We live on a fragile planet in the vacuum and void of space,' reaffirming humanity's purpose 'to find joy and lift each other up.' With splashdown imminent, this mission lays groundwork for humanity's deeper exploration of space.