The crew of Artemis II is now preparing for their return to Earth following a successful lunar orbit. The spacecraft is currently aimed towards Earth, scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, around 8:06 p.m. ET on Friday, as confirmed by NASA officials.
In a press conference on Tuesday, NASA flight director Rick Henfling mentioned the need to stow away all scientific equipment, cameras, tablets, and reference materials used during the flyby. He noted the importance of packing up before heading home from the historic mission that set a new record by traveling 406,771 kilometers, surpassing Apollo 13’s previous record of 400,171 kilometers.
During the mission, the crew had the opportunity to name two lunar craters, choosing the names Integrity and Carroll in honor of Wiseman’s late wife. Henfling described an emotional moment in mission control when the names were revealed.
The astronauts spent seven hours observing the moon during the flyby, reporting sightings of features on the lunar surface, as well as distant planets like Mars, Venus, and Saturn. NASA geologist Kelsey Young highlighted the excitement in the science room when the crew spotted impact flashes caused by micro-meteorites hitting the moon.
Over 175 GB of images were captured during the flyby, with all data set to be publicly available within six months. The crew also observed a solar eclipse from a distance of about 6,545 kilometers above the moon’s surface.
Following their observations, the crew received a call from U.S. President Donald Trump, inviting them to the White House upon their return. Additionally, the crew had a video call with the International Space Station crew, sharing experiences and discussing space food preferences.
Despite a successful mission, the spacecraft encountered toilet system issues, with wastewater not being properly evacuated. Henfling assured that the toilet remains operational, and NASA engineers are working to address the blockage once the spacecraft returns for further analysis in Florida.
