Cheers welcome Artemis II astronauts residence after record-breaking journey

HOUSTON (AP) — Still marveling over their moon mission, the Artemis II astronauts obtained a thunderous welcome residence Saturday from lots of who took half in NASA’s lunar comeback that set a document for deep area journey.

The crew of 4 arrived at Ellington Field close to NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Mission Control, flying in from San Diego, the place they splashed down simply offshore the night earlier than.

WATCH: Artemis II crew splashes down on Earth after historic journey across the moon

After a fast reunion with their spouses and youngsters, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen took the hangar stage, surrounded by area heart staff and different invited friends. They have been launched by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, among the many first to greet them aboard the restoration ship Friday.

“Ladies and gentlemen, your Artemis II crew,” Isaacman stated to a standing ovation.

The jubilant crowd included flight administrators and the launch director, Orion capsule and exploration system managers, high-ranking army officers, members of Congress, the area company’s complete blue-suited astronaut corps and even retired ones, and extra.

Their homecoming was poignant: They returned to NASA’s Houston base on the 56th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13, whose “Houston, we’ve had a problem” chorus turned a near-disaster into triumph.

READ MORE: How will NASA get the Artemis II crew safely again on Earth? Here’s the science behind splashdown

“This was not easy.” an emotional Wiseman stated. “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.”

Added Glover: “I have not processed what we just did and I’m afraid to start even trying.”

Hansen stated the 4 of them embodied love “and extracting joy out of that” because the 4 joined collectively to face in a row, embracing each other. “When you look up here, you’re not looking at us. We are a mirror reflecting you. And if you like what you see, then just look a little deeper. This is you.”

During Artemis II’s almost 10-day mission, the astronauts voyaged deeper into area than the moon explorers of a long time previous and captured views of the lunar far facet by no means witnessed earlier than by human eyes. A complete photo voltaic eclipse added to the cosmic marvel.

On their record-breaking flyby, the astronauts reached a most 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) from Earth earlier than hanging a U-turn behind the moon, eclipsing Apollo’s 13 distance document.

WATCH: Artemis II crew breaks distance document on mission round far facet of moon

The mission additionally revealed a brand new facet of our planet with an Earthset photograph, displaying our Blue Marble setting behind the grey, pockmarked moon. The picture echoed the well-known Earthrise shot from 1968 taken by the world’s first lunar guests, Apollo 8.

“Honestly, what struck me wasn’t necessarily just Earth, it was all the blackness around it. Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbedly in the universe,” Koch stated. “Planet Earth you are a crew.”

Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts needed to cope with a extra mundane downside — a malfunctioning area rest room. NASA promised a design repair earlier than longer moon-landing missions.

Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen have been the primary people to fly to the moon since Apollo 17 closed out NASA’s first exploration period in 1972. Twenty-four astronauts flew to the moon throughout Apollo, together with 12 moonwalkers.

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell — who additionally flew on Apollo 8 — cheered the Artemis II crew on in a wake-up message recorded earlier than he died final summer season.

It was essential for NASA that Artemis II go effectively. The area company is already getting ready for subsequent yr’s Artemis III, which is able to see a brand new crew follow docking its capsule with a lunar lander in orbit round Earth. That will set the stage for the all-important Artemis IV moon touchdown in 2028, when two astronauts try a landing close to the lunar south pole.

“The long wait is over. After a brief 53-year intermission, the show goes on,” Isaacman stated.