The Artemis II crew is now preparing for their return journey after completing a successful orbit around the moon. The capsule is currently directed back towards Earth, and a scheduled splashdown is expected on Friday at approximately 8:06 p.m. ET in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, according to NASA officials.
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, NASA flight director Rick Henfling mentioned the need to stow away all the scientific equipment, cameras, tablets, and reference materials that were utilized for the flyby. He emphasized the importance of packing up and getting ready for the journey home.
This groundbreaking mission set a new distance record on Monday by traveling the farthest distance from Earth ever reached by humans, covering 406,771 kilometers. This achievement surpassed the previous record of 400,171 kilometers set by Apollo 13 in 1970. The crew also had the privilege of naming two lunar craters after proposing the names Integrity, representing their capsule, and Carroll, in tribute to Wiseman’s late wife who passed away in 2020.
Henfling expressed the emotional impact felt in mission control when the crater names were revealed, stating that there “wasn’t a dry eye.” During the lunar flyby, the crew spent seven hours observing and reported sightings of surface details on the moon, as well as distant views of Mars, Venus, and Saturn.
NASA geologist Kelsey Young shared that the scientific discussions held by the crew were inspiring, highlighting the excitement in the science room upon observing impact flashes caused by micro-meteorites striking the moon’s surface.
The crew captured over 175 GB of images during the flyby, and all data collected will be made publicly accessible within six months. Integrity had the opportunity to witness a solar eclipse from a close distance to the moon’s surface, reaching as near as about 6,545 kilometers.
After the flyby, the crew received a call from U.S. President Donald Trump, who extended an invitation for them to visit the White House upon their return. The crew also had a video call with the International Space Station, where they shared experiences and discussed aspects of life in space, including the food they enjoyed.
Commander Reid Wiseman expressed the crew’s gratitude for the call, mentioning the uplifting effect it had on them. Despite the successful mission, ongoing toilet issues were reported, with the wastewater not being properly evacuated. NASA’s engineering team is investigating the cause of the blockage, with plans to conduct a detailed analysis upon the spacecraft’s return to the processing facility in Florida.