LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- NASA celebrates a historic milestone after the Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth, proving that human missions to the Moon are back on track for the first time in over five decades.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), received four of its astronauts late Friday after they completed a successful trip around the Moon. The mission marked the first time humans have flown past the Moon in more than 50 years.
The spacecraft, Orion capsule, nicknamed Integrity by the crew, carried three Americans and one Canadian from Florida to the vastness of space on April 1 and landed them smoothly in the Pacific Ocean near California on April 10, after a 10-day lunar flyby.
The Artemis II mission, a historic milestone ended with cheers at control centers after a tense period during re-entry, when communication briefly dropped, a normal but stressful phase of space travel.
“What a journey,” said mission commander Reid Wiseman, confirming that he and fellow astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen were “stable” and “green” “They’re in great condition, that’s what that means,” added NASA official Rob Navias during a live broadcast.
After splashdown, recovery teams quickly moved in. With help from the US military, the astronauts were lifted from their capsule and transported by helicopter to a nearby ship. To the surprise of many, all four crew members were able to walk on their own shortly after landing.
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Soon after, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman praised the mission, calling it “a perfect mission.” “We’re back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon,” he added, and emphasized that “this is just the beginning.”
Despite earlier concerns from a previous uncrewed test, this time the re-entry went smoothly. Astonishingly, the spacecraft reached speeds over 30 times the speed of sound and endured extreme heat nearly half as hot as the Sun’s surface.
This intense phase tested a key safety feature in the spacecraft’s heat shield. Engineers will now carefully study the capsule to understand how it performed under such harsh conditions.
Notably, the mission broke several barriers. Victor Glover became the first person of color to orbit the Moon, Christina Koch became the first woman to achieve the feat, and Jeremy Hansen became the first non-American to take part in such a mission.
The astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans before, reaching a distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers). Along the way, they captured thousands of images of the Moon and deep space, amazing people back on Earth. They also witnessed rare events, including a solar eclipse and meteorite impacts on the Moon’s surface.
Astronomer Derek Buzasi described it as “an almost flawless success,” adding, “I admit to having had my doubts about the Artemis program, but now I have fresh confidence in our next steps as we go back to the moon to stay.”
The success of Artemis II puts NASA closer to its goal of landing astronauts on the Moon again, possibly by 2028. The long-term vision includes building a permanent base to support deeper space missions, including future journeys to Mars.
US President Donald Trump praised the crew’s “spectacular” achievement and looked ahead, writing, “Next step, Mars!”
However, challenges remain. Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are still developing the lunar landers needed for future missions, and experts question whether they will be ready on time. Meanwhile, China is pushing forward with its own plan to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.
Ultimately, the Artemis II mission has reignited global interest in space travel, showing that human exploration beyond Earth orbit is not only possible again but advancing quickly toward a future where living and working on the Moon and other inhabitable planets becomes reality.
