The Artemis II crew – Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – concluded their ten-day mission with a safe return to Earth, according to live coverage on CBC News Network. The Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 7:07 p.m. Central Time, and the astronauts were recovered via helicopter hoist to the USS John P. Murtha.

Mission Highlights

During the mission, the Orion spacecraft traveled a total of 700,237 miles and reached a peak velocity while orbiting the moon. The crew travelled around the far side of the moon, a key objective of the mission. The broadcast highlighted a moment where the crew emotionally requested a new crater on the moon be named after Carol Wiseman, the late wife of astronaut Reed Wiseman.

CBC News reported that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the crew during the mission, and a lighthearted exchange occurred regarding the preference for maple syrup over Nutella on their pancakes.

According to NASA officials, the re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere was successful, despite the inherent risks. Paul Hunter, reporting for CBC News, stated that the mission serves as a test run for future lunar missions, with the goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2028 and eventually establishing a lunar base. Hunter also noted the symbolic importance of the Canadian and American flags displayed on board, representing an international collaboration.

Following medical checks, the astronauts will travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center and reunite with their families. The successful completion of Artemis II marks a significant milestone in NASA’s Artemis program and paves the way for continued lunar exploration.