Artemis II Crew Poised to Share Moon Discoveries After Historic Mission

Fri Apr 10 2026 02:25:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Artemis II mission has successfully completed its journey around the Moon, with astronauts eager to return home with unprecedented lunar observations. They promise to share many incredible stories and images from their exploration.

The Artemis II crew, after completing their historical flyby of the Moon, is set to return to Earth, bringing back extensive data and images. The astronauts expressed their eagerness to share newfound knowledge and experiences, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.

The Artemis II crew said they have many more pictures and many more stories to share with the world as they prepare to return to Earth.

The four astronauts on board the Orion spacecraft have completed their mission around the Moon and are expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego around 20:00 Friday US EDT (01:00 BST).

Speaking to media from space on their way home, the mission's pilot, Victor Glover, expressed excitement about sharing their findings with the world. We have to get back. There's so much data that you've already seen, but all the good stuff is coming back with us, Glover said.

He emphasized the wealth of imagery and experiences collected during the mission, stating, There are so many more pictures, so many more stories, before adding that they still have two more days to reflect on their journey. I'm going to be thinking about and talking about all of these things for the rest of my life, he shared.

The mission has set a new record in human travel, reaching distances greater than any previous crewed mission, surpassing the Apollo 13 mission. While the Orion spacecraft did not land on the Moon, the astronauts were the first humans to see parts of its far side, which has been previously photographed only by satellites.

In a moving moment, the crew shared personal reflections, including naming a lunar crater after Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife, which Glover described as the greatest gift of their journey. As they embark on their return to Earth, the astronauts look forward to demystifying the data they collected and sharing the significance of their mission with everyone back home.