Still in awe of their lunar mission, the Artemis II astronauts received a rousing welcome home Saturday from hundreds who took part in Nasa’s record-breaking lunar return.
The four-crew crew arrived at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Mission Control, flying from San Diego where they launched into the ocean the previous evening.
After a quick reunion with their spouses and children, the astronauts boarded the platform, surrounded by space station personnel and other invited guests.
The crowd included Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman, flight directors and launch director, Orion capsule and probe system managers, high-ranking military officials, members of Congress, all of the space agency’s astronauts and even retirees, and more.
“The long wait is over. After a brief hiatus of 53 years, the show is on,” Isaacman said. “Ladies and gentlemen, your crew of Artemis II,” he added, as the crowd stood, clapped and cheered.
The crash of the Artemis II astronauts ends the mission around the moon
The crash of the Artemis II astronauts ends the mission around the moon
The arrival of Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew from the United States and Canada was poignant: they returned to their home base of Houston on the 56th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13, whose response “Houston, we’ve had a problem” turned almost a disaster into a triumph.
