Artemis II crew returns home following a historic journey beyond Earth, setting new records along the way

The crew of Artemis II returns home after an unprecedented journey, having experienced a solar eclipse and traveled further from Earth than any humans in history.

The Artemis II crew is returning to Earth after accomplishing a groundbreaking mission that took them farther into space than any humans have ventured before.

The astronauts achieved a remarkable distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) from Earth during their lunar flyby, exceeding the former record and signifying a significant milestone in human space exploration.

Commander Reid Wiseman characterized the experience as unparalleled, noting that the crew “saw sights that no human has ever seen,” while pilot Victor Glover remarked that there are “no adjectives” to adequately convey what they witnessed.

While on the mission, the crew experienced a rare total solar eclipse from their Orion spacecraft, providing a unique perspective far beyond Earth.

At a certain moment, the spacecraft moved behind the moon, briefly interrupting communication with NASA. The blackout, lasting approximately 40 minutes, was anticipated because of signal obstruction.

“It’s wonderful to hear from Earth again,” said mission specialist Christina Koch as contact was reestablished.

The mission has received commendation from Donald Trump, who expressed to the astronauts that they had “made history and made all America truly proud” and extended an invitation for them to visit the White House.

The Artemis II crew has entered the lunar sphere, approaching a historic distance record.
The Artemis II crew is set to conclude their mission with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, located off the west coast of the United States, at 20:07 eastern US time on Friday (01:07 BST Saturday).