After a 10-day mission that sent them across the far side of the moon, NASA Commander Reid Wiseman says he and his three fellow Artemis II crew members are “bonded perpetually.”
Wiseman and fellow astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen were welcomed home in an emotional and rousing event in Houston, in the future after they touched back down on Earth.
“We’re bonded perpetually and nobody down here is ever going to know what the 4 of us just went through and it was essentially the most special thing that can ever occur in my life,” said Wiseman.
The mission broke the record for the farthest humans have ever travelled from Earth, and on a private level, Reid said it was no small feat.
“This was difficult being 200,000-plus miles away from home. Like before you launch, it seems like it’s the best dream on Earth and if you’re on the market, you simply wish to get back to your families and your folks,” he said.
“It’s a special thing to be a human and it’s a special thing to be on planet Earth.”
Glover, a Navy test pilot, said he felt gratitude in regards to the whole experience.
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“I even have not processed what we just did. And I’m afraid to begin even trying,” he said.
And Koch, who was mission specialist, said it was difficult to even adequately describe what they saw.
“Once we saw tiny Earth, people asked our crew what impressions we had. And truthfully, what struck me wasn’t necessarily just Earth. It was all of the blackness around it. Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbingly within the universe,” she said.
Canadian astronaut Hansen, who became the primary non-American to fly across the moon, told the gang there was a “lot of joy up there” as a crew.
“What you saw was a bunch of people that loved contributing, having meaningful contribution and extracting joy out of that,” he said, while inviting his fellow astronauts for a hug on the stage.
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell spoke on the event and reiterated this country’s dedication to space research and robotics.
“We consider we’re well positioned to deliver sought-after capabilities that’ll support the infrastructure and autonomy needed for a sustained human presence on the moon and also you’ve shown us the best way, Jeremy,” she said.
“During the last 10 days, you’ve represented the highest of what it means to be Canadian. You’ve exemplified our deepest values, discipline, humility and exertions. And the Artemis crew, the 4 of you embodied what teamwork looks like at its highest.”
That future goal of space exploration was underscored by Republican U.S. Congressman Brian Babin, who’s a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Babin reminded the gang of U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for space.
“You’ve gotten travelled farther from Earth than any humans have ever gone before, pushing the boundaries of exploration, reminding us of the pioneering spirit that defines our great country — and that goes for Canada as well,” Babin said.
“This mission is a critical step forward in achieving President Trump’s vision of returning Americans to the moon in 2028 and doing so before our competitors do. And there remains to be much work ahead, but this moment should renew our confidence, and it most definitely has.”
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