Artemis II crew returns to Earth

The Artemis II mission concluded on Friday with a precise splashdown off the coast of San Diego, bringing astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen safely home.

During their 10-day journey, the crew traveled further from Earth than any previous human spaceflight, testing the Orion spacecraft's critical systems.

NASA officials have hailed the mission as a 'fantastic feat' that provides essential data for the upcoming Artemis III landing attempt.

The successful return revitalizes global interest in lunar exploration as the United States and China compete for a permanent presence on the Moon.