Artemis II Returns to Earth

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen re-entered Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour before their Integrity capsule safely hit the water.

The mission marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, serving as a critical validation of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System.

NASA officials hailed the 'picture-perfect' recovery as a foundational step toward a permanent lunar base and eventual missions to Mars.

Despite the triumph, the agency faces looming budget uncertainties and 'extinction-level' cuts proposed by the Trump administration.