Artemis II Crew Returns From Historic Moon Mission: 'We Came Back as Best Friends'
The four-person Artemis II crew returned from their historic 10-day mission around the moon, splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. NASA Commander Reid Wiseman said the crew members are now 'bonded forever' after becoming the first humans to fly around the moon in over 50 years.
The Artemis II crew completed their groundbreaking 10-day mission around the far side of the moon, marking humanity's first lunar flyby since the Apollo era ended in the 1970s.
NASA Commander Reid Wiseman led the four-person team on the historic journey, which ended with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean nearly a week ago. Speaking about the experience, Wiseman said he and his three crewmates are 'bonded forever' by their shared adventure.
The astronauts described how the intense experience brought them closer together. 'We came back as best friends,' one crew member reflected, highlighting the strong relationships formed during their time in space.
During the mission, the crew was able to maintain contact with Earth through brief calls with their families, including spouses and children. Crew member Hansen praised the extensive support and training they received, saying 'I don't think people will really ever fully comprehend how well supported and trained we were. It is almost unbelievable.'
The successful mission represents a major milestone for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a permanent presence on the moon.
This marks humanity's return to lunar exploration after decades away from the moon. The mission proves we can safely send people on long space journeys again, paving the way for future moon landings and eventually trips to Mars.
NASA will analyze mission data to prepare for Artemis III, which plans to land astronauts on the moon's surface.
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