The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on Friday evening, concluding a record-breaking 10-day journey around the Moon. The Orion capsule touched down at 5:07 PM local time (1:07 AM BST), marking the first human lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen traveled 694,481 miles (1,117,659 km) during the mission, which officially lasted 9 days, 1 hour, and 32 minutes. NASA counted launch day as flight day one, making it a 10-day mission. All four astronauts are reported to be in good health.
Speaking at a press conference after the landing, NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said: '53 years ago, humanity left the moon. This time we return to stay. Let us finish what they started.' The crew joins an exclusive group of only 24 other humans who have traveled to the Moon and returned safely to Earth.
During the mission, the astronauts captured stunning images of the lunar surface and Earth. Koch described her first close approach to the Moon as 'overwhelming,' adding that 'the moon really is its own unique body in the universe.' She became the only woman to have traveled to the Moon and back. Hansen is the first Canadian astronaut to fly around the Moon.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman hailed the mission as 'just the beginning,' with plans for a crewed Moon landing in 2028. The Artemis III mission will follow, aiming to land astronauts on the lunar surface and establish a base. Recovery operations were conducted by the USS John P Murtha, with crew members transferred by helicopter to the naval ship.
