MOONSHOT

Artemis II Nails Historic Moon Run Despite Mid-Mission Glitches

The first crewed lunar loop in more than 50 years ended with a safe return and bigger ambitions.

Astronauts just flew around the moon—and made it back—for the first time in more than 50 years. The four-person crew aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, capping off a 10-day journey that sent humans deeper into space than at any point since 1972. Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman confirmed all four astronauts were “green,” meaning healthy, as their Orion capsule hit the water near San Diego. The mission delivered a string of milestones, including the first woman and first Black astronaut to circle the moon, and pushed farther than Apollo 13 ever traveled, reaching a record 252,756 miles from Earth. There were a couple of hiccups along the way, including a malfunctioning toilet, but NASA’s next-generation spacecraft passed the biggest test in making it back to Earth. A crowd at San Diego’s Air & Space Museum erupted as the capsule splashed down Friday, according to The New York Times. Officials are now eyeing a crewed lunar landing by 2028.