Artemis II Astronauts Reflect on Historic Lunar Flyby
The Artemis II crew shares insights and emotions from their groundbreaking mission around the Moon.
The Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, concluded successfully with the Orion spacecraft's splashdown near San Diego on April 10, 2026. The four-member crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—traveled approximately 252,756 miles from Earth, setting a new record for human spaceflight distance.
During their journey, the astronauts observed the Moon's far side, capturing images of impact craters and ridges. They also witnessed a total solar eclipse from space, describing the experience as "surreal" and "profound."
Reflecting on the mission, Commander Wiseman expressed gratitude for the global support, stating,
"I want to thank the world for tuning in for a second and getting hooked on this mission."
The Artemis II mission serves as a critical step toward NASA's goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, with future missions planned to land astronauts on the lunar surface and build a permanent base.
