The Orion capsule, nicknamed Integrity, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday at 7:07 p.m. Central Time, completing the Artemis II mission, as reported by CBC News during its live coverage. The mission lasted nine days, one hour, 32 minutes, and 15 seconds.

Historic Mission and Canadian First

The mission marked the first time a Canadian has ventured into deep space, with astronaut Jeremy Hansen aboard. The crew conducted a flyby of the far side of the moon and gathered data on the biological impacts of deep space travel. According to CBC News’ broadcast, the crew also made an emotional request to name a newly spotted crater on the moon after a deceased member of their astronaut family, Carol.

During the broadcast, CBC News featured interviews with retired Canadian astronauts Chris Hadfield and Dr. Roberta Bondar. Hadfield described the mission as “spectacular” and praised the crew for making a complex undertaking appear “inevitably easy.” Bondar emphasized the importance of Hansen’s participation for Canadians, stating he represents “the best that we have of a generation and a best that we have of an explorer.”

Scientific Data Collection

Artemis II focused on gathering data related to the effects of deep space travel on the human body. NASA equipped the Orion capsule with six new radiation sensors. Additionally, a program called Avatar, involving organ chips with cells from the astronauts, was used to study the effects of radiation and microgravity, as explained by emergency doctor Raj Bhardwaj during the CBC News broadcast. Researchers also tracked changes in the astronauts’ immune systems and vision during the mission. According to the broadcast, astronauts reported seeing unusual colors while observing the moon.

The data collected will be used to prepare for a planned moon landing in 2028 and to improve the health and safety of future space travelers. As Dr. Bondar stated, the flight’s completion is not the end of the work, but rather the beginning of a phase focused on applying the lessons learned to future missions.