Artemis II crew call mission experience ‘profound’
HOUSTON, April 10: The Artemis II astronauts are preparing for their return to Earth after completing a historic lunar flyby, calling the experience “surreal” and “profound” as they approach the final phase of their mission.
The crew—commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen—were less than 150,000 miles from Earth after becoming the most distant humans in history, reaching about 252,756 miles from the planet while looping around the Moon.
As the mission neared its end, the astronauts spent time preparing their Orion spacecraft for reentry and reflecting on their journey. They described the period spent behind the Moon, when they were cut off from communication with Earth, as especially powerful and emotionally intense.
The crew also experienced a rare total solar eclipse from lunar orbit, which they described as one of the most extraordinary highlights of the flight.
Glover said the upcoming return through Earth’s atmosphere—often described as riding a “fireball”—would be another profound moment in the mission.
Wiseman noted that the experience had given the crew a deeper appreciation of spaceflight and humanity’s place in the universe. NASA officials praised the astronauts’ reflections, saying their firsthand accounts and emotional responses are a key reason human space exploration remains essential.
All attention is now focused on the high-risk reentry and Pacific splashdown off the coast of San Diego, marking NASA’s first crewed lunar return since Apollo 17 in 1972. The Orion capsule will reenter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds nearing 24,000 mph, with Mission Control stressing that even a one-degree error in its entry angle could jeopardize the mission.
Engineers are closely monitoring the spacecraft’s heat shield after earlier uncrewed tests showed unexpected damage.
For Artemis II, NASA adjusted the descent path to reduce heat exposure, while future missions will feature redesigned shields for added safety.
The broader Artemis programme aims to establish sustained lunar exploration, with upcoming missions planned for lunar orbit docking and eventually a crewed landing near the Moon’s south pole, laying the groundwork for a long-term lunar base. (AP)
