In brief
The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission has returned safely to Earth after an impressive nine-day journey around the Moon. The astronauts were aboard the Orion spacecraft, which reentered the atmosphere at speeds exceeding 24,000 mph. The mission marks a significant step towards establishing a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. President Donald Trump has extended an invitation for a White House visit to the returning astronauts, who will undergo medical evaluations before reuniting with their families.
The four astronauts who flew in NASA's Artemis II mission around the Moon have splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean after a flawless return.The crew are now safely aboard a waiting ship and recovering from a nine-day voyage that took them further from Earth than any humans in history.Their Orion spacecraft was travelling at more than 24,000 mph (38,600 km/h) when it hit the Earth's upper atmosphere, its heat shield subjected to temperatures half as hot as found on the surface of the Sun.Their safe return paves the way for the next stage of the Artemis programme, which aims to land humans on the lunar surface and eventually build a permanent base on the Moon.During the mission's re-entry, the capsule named 'Integrity' briefly lost contact with mission control in Houston due to extreme heat, but communication was re-established with the crew safely arriving back on Earth.The astronauts, including Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, were congratulated by President Donald Trump, who called the mission "spectacular". They will be flown to Houston to meet with their families soon.As they await their reunion, the astronauts were seen smiling aboard the USS John P Murtha, where they were extracted from the capsule.The Artemis programme plans to land humans on the Moon for the first time since 1972 and establish a permanent lunar base, with Artemis III scheduled for mid-2027.
