Artemis II astronauts return safely after historic journey around the Moon
Astronauts aboard Artemis II have safely returned to Earth after completing a historic mission that took them farther from the planet than any humans before.
The crew splashed down successfully off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. ET, marking the end of a groundbreaking 10-day journey around the Moon and back.
The mission, led by NASA, saw astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen travel deeper into space than any crew in history. Their journey surpassed the record set during Apollo 13 in 1970.
After re-entry, recovery teams retrieved the crew from the Orion capsule and transported them to a nearby recovery ship. There, they began initial medical evaluations to ensure their health following the demanding mission.
Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston erupted in applause as confirmation came that all four astronauts were safe.
Commander Reid Wiseman confirmed the crew’s condition shortly after landing, saying: “What a journey. We are stable. Four green crewmembers,” indicating that all astronauts were in good health.
The Artemis II mission is considered a major milestone in humanity’s return to deep space exploration. While it did not land on the Moon, it served as a critical test of systems that will be used in future missions aimed at putting astronauts back on the lunar surface.
NASA officials described the mission as “well accomplished,” highlighting its role in paving the way for upcoming lunar landings under the Artemis program.
The success of Artemis II brings humanity one step closer to establishing a sustained presence on the Moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
