HOUSTON (AP) — NASA's Artemis II mission has returned from a record-setting journey to the moon, achieving unprecedented views of the lunar far side and performing successfully during a total solar eclipse. The historic flight, featuring the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon, marks the beginning of a new era in space exploration.
During a celebration in Houston, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman introduced the crew members, highlighting the significance of their journey. 'To people around the world who look up and dream about what is possible, the long wait is over,' he stated.
The astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — are now back home after spending nearly 10 days in orbit around the moon. Now, attention turns to Artemis III, where plans are underway for astronauts to practice docking their Orion capsule with lunar landers in orbit.
SpaceX and Blue Origin are in a race against each other to prepare their landers for lunar missions, as the competition heats up for future explorations.
Amidst the excitement of their return, the crew expressed emotional moments and thoughts of loved ones as they flew around the moon. They requested that a new lunar crater be named in honor of Wiseman's late wife, showing the human connection that underlines space exploration.
Looking ahead, NASA's Artemis III aims to practice docking maneuvers and take critical steps toward establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon, particularly at the south pole where ice resources could be found, essential for future missions.
