Artemis II’s historic journey around the Moon concluded with a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, marking humanity’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years.

The four astronauts returned safely after a record-setting flyby, during which they observed previously unseen portions of the Moon’s far side and witnessed a total solar eclipse. One by one, they exited their floating capsule after landing.

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen reentered Earth’s atmosphere at speeds reaching Mach 33, similar to the intense velocities achieved during NASA’s Apollo missions. Their Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, completed the descent using autopilot.

As the capsule endured extreme heat during reentry, it was surrounded by plasma, causing a temporary communication blackout that heightened tension in Mission Control. Cheers erupted when contact was restored and again upon splashdown, where the recovery ship USS John P. Murtha awaited them.

NASA officials praised the mission as a major success, especially highlighting the spacecraft’s heat shield, which withstood thousands of degrees during reentry. Despite minor technical issues—such as valve malfunctions and a problematic onboard toilet—the crew completed the nearly 10-day mission effectively.

Launched on April 1, Artemis II set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13. The astronauts reached over 252,000 miles away and even named lunar craters during their journey. Their images of the Moon and Earth, including an “Earthset,” echoed the iconic Apollo 8 “Earthrise.”

The mission captured global attention and support from world leaders and celebrities alike. As part of NASA’s Artemis program, it serves as a crucial step toward future lunar exploration. Upcoming missions aim to test docking procedures and eventually land astronauts near the Moon’s south pole.

Ultimately, the crew expressed hope that their journey would inspire people worldwide to appreciate Earth’s beauty and significance.