The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission have returned to Earth after a nine-day journey that took them farther into space than any humans before. Their capsule splashed down near San Diego following a dramatic reentry, marking the successful completion of a historic lunar flyby.
The crew includes NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Jeremy Hansen. Koch and Glover have made history as the first woman and first Black man to travel to the moon. All four have become space celebrities, with their mission seen as a stepping stone for humanity's deeper understanding of space.
Victor Glover, 49, was born in Pomona, California, and was inspired by a space shuttle launch as a child. He earned a bachelor's degree in general engineering from California Polytechnic State University and later served as a Naval Aviator, flying 24 combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Glover also spent 168 days on the International Space Station, completing four spacewalks.
Christina Koch, 45, previously set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. The crew broke the record for the farthest distance from Earth ever traveled. NASA says the astronauts will help train future crews and apply data gathered during the mission, including assessments of flight hardware and emergency systems.
The Artemis II mission is part of NASA's broader Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent presence on the moon and eventually send humans to Mars. The crew's safe return marks a significant milestone in this ambitious endeavour.
