The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission are preparing to return to Earth after completing a groundbreaking journey around the Moon, with a Pacific Ocean splashdown expected off the coast of San Diego at around 01:00 BST (12:00 GMT).
The four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft have spent the past 10 days travelling farther from Earth than any human mission since the Apollo 13 mission, marking a significant step forward in efforts to return humans to the lunar surface.
Speaking to reporters during a live broadcast from space, pilot Victor Glover said the crew would be bringing back extensive material from the mission, including data, images and personal accounts.
“There’s a lot that’s already been shared,” he said, “but much of what we’ve gathered is coming back with us. There are many more pictures and many more stories to tell.”
The mission did not involve a lunar landing, but the spacecraft flew around the Moon’s far side - a region not visible from Earth. While previously imaged by robotic missions, this marked one of the first times astronauts have directly observed parts of the area, including large impact craters and ancient volcanic plains.
Commander Reid Wiseman said the mission included critical scientific observations, particularly during a period of around 40 minutes when communication with Earth was lost.
Despite the workload, he said the crew took a brief moment to reflect during that time.
“We paused for a few minutes to take it all in,” he said, adding that the experience of being so far from Earth was difficult to fully describe.
Crew members also highlighted personal moments during the mission. Wiseman described naming a lunar crater after his late wife as the most emotional point of the journey, while Glover pointed to witnessing a lunar eclipse from deep space as a standout experience.
Mission specialist Christina Koch said she would miss the sense of teamwork developed during the flight, describing it as a key part of life on board.
The astronauts also used their final public appearances to emphasise the broader significance of the mission. Wiseman described the current period as a “golden age of space travel”, while Glover said he hoped the mission would inspire future generations.
Attention is now turning to the spacecraft’s return, widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding phases of the mission. Orion is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, generating intense heat and causing a temporary communications blackout.
Parachutes will deploy in stages to slow the capsule before it lands in the Pacific, where recovery teams - supported by the USS John P. Murtha - will retrieve the crew.
Following recovery, the astronauts will undergo medical checks before being transported to Johnson Space Center in Texas.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August 30 and 2 Se...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told ...
Hua Hong Semiconductor, China's second-largest contract chipmaker, is investing $2 billion to build a new fabrication plant in Wuxi, China as p...
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas says the bloc will tighten enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers were meeting in Ireland following renewed Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August 30 and 2 September.
From mounting concerns over record global debt levels to growing tensions over China's trade surplus and Russia's return to the negotiating table, this year's G20 finance meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, highlighted the challenges confronting the global economy.
Hua Hong Semiconductor, China's second-largest contract chipmaker, is investing $2 billion to build a new fabrication plant in Wuxi, China as part of a push to expand capacity as domestic demand for AI-related chips outstrips what the industry can currently produce.
Apple is entering a new era as Tim Cook steps down as chief executive after 15 years at the helm, handing the technology giant's leadership to longtime executive John Ternus.
A humanoid robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor has run 100 metres in 9.32 seconds, beating Usain Bolt's men's world record of 9.58 seconds, China's state broadcaster reported on Saturday.
An artificial intelligence agent running an experimental store in San Francisco has recommended dismissing a human employee after the worker repeatedly arrived late for shifts.
Nvidia is teaming up with some of the biggest names in global finance in a move that underscores how artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the world's most sought-after investment themes.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment