Update: Artemis II Crew Comes Home

The Artemis II mission concluded with the successful splashdown of the Orion spacecraft, Integrity, in the Pacific Ocean, marking a pivotal milestone in returning humans to the lunar surface. After traveling over 1.1 million kilometers and venturing farther from Earth than any previous human mission, the four-person crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—returned safely following a high-stakes atmospheric reentry. During the mission’s final descent, the spacecraft endured extreme temperatures and a mandatory six-minute communications blackout before deploying its parachutes. Upon their return to Houston, the astronauts reflected on the profound psychological impact of viewing Earth from deep space, describing the planet as a fragile "lifeboat" in the vastness of the universe. This mission serves as a critical test flight, establishing the foundation for future lunar base development and long-term human exploration of Mars.