NASA's Artemis II crew has completed its historic journey around the moon and is now on course to return to Earth - with a broken distance record, a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse sighting, and one of the most emotional moments in spaceflight history behind them.
Splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California.
Breaking a 54-Year-Old Record
Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen flew farther from Earth than any human since Apollo 13 in 1970 - surpassing that record by more than 6,600 kilometers at a peak distance of approximately 406,771 kilometers from Earth.
Astronaut Hansen put the milestone in perspective: "To challenge this generation and the next, to make sure this record is not long-lived."
A Solar Eclipse Seen From the Far Side of the Moon
During the lunar flyby, the crew witnessed a total solar eclipse from space - something they described as "truly hard to describe." Communication with mission control went dark for about 40 minutes as the Orion spacecraft passed behind the moon. When signal was restored, Christina Koch said: "It is so great to hear from Earth again."
She added: "We will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other."
A Crater Named Carroll
The crew proposed names for two previously unnamed lunar craters. The first, "Integrity," honored their spacecraft's nickname. The second - Carroll - was offered in memory of Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife, who passed away from cancer.
"It's a bright spot on the moon," said Hansen, his voice breaking with emotion. "And we would like to call it Carroll."
Mission control in Houston held a moment of silence. NASA will formally submit both names to the International Astronomical Union for approval.
Historic Firsts
Artemis II made history on multiple fronts. Victor Glover became the first person of color to orbit the moon, Christina Koch the first woman, and Jeremy Hansen the first non-American. Glover, who is openly Christian and has long described his faith as inseparable from his career, said his journey to the stars is a testament that science and belief can coexist beautifully.
The crew also received a recorded message from NASA legend Jim Lovell - Apollo 13 commander - recorded before his passing at 97. "Good luck and Godspeed from all of us here on the good Earth," Lovell said.
Godspeed, Artemis II. The world is waiting for you on April 10.
