Astronauts aboard Artemis II have shared their emotions as they prepare to return to Earth following a historic رحلة around the far side of the Moon.
The four-member crew, traveling in NASA’s Orion capsule, are expected to splash down off the coast of Southern California on Friday, concluding a nearly 10-day mission that saw them become the farthest-traveling humans in history.
During re-entry, the spacecraft will reach speeds of nearly 38,000 km/h, with its heat shield enduring extreme temperatures as it passes through Earth’s atmosphere in what astronauts described as a “fireball.”
Mission pilot Victor Glover said he has long anticipated the re-entry phase, calling the experience both intense and profound. Fellow crew members include commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
The mission, part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term presence, with future plans targeting missions to Mars.
The crew reached a record distance of approximately 252,000 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous record set during Apollo 13 over five decades ago.
Astronauts described emotional moments during the mission, including limited communications with their families and a tribute proposal to name a lunar crater after a late family member.
The upcoming Artemis III mission will test docking systems in low-Earth orbit, while future missions are expected to focus on lunar landings and long-term exploration.
