The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission arrived at Houston's Ellington Field on Saturday to a thunderous welcome from hundreds of space center workers, family members, and officials after completing the most distant human spaceflight in history.
Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off California's coast Friday evening, concluding a nearly 10-day journey that took them 406,771 kilometers from Earth — farther than any humans have traveled since the Apollo era.
This was not easy. Before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on Earth. And when you're out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It's a special thing to be a human, and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth.
Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander — BBC
The mission marked the first time humans had ventured toward the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, and the first to include a non-American astronaut on a lunar trajectory. Hansen's participation represented a significant milestone for Canada's space program and international cooperation in deep space exploration.
During their record-breaking flyby, the crew captured unprecedented views of the lunar far side and witnessed a total solar eclipse from space. They approached within 6,545 kilometers of the Moon's surface before executing a trajectory change that sent them around the far side — a maneuver that temporarily cut off all communication with Earth.
Spiegel emphasizes the technical achievement and emotional human dimension of the mission, framing it as a validation of international space cooperation. The outlet highlights the symbolic timing of the return coinciding with Apollo 13's anniversary, suggesting continuity in American space leadership while noting the inclusion of international partners.