The Artemis II crew returned to the Space Coast for the first time since launching from Kennedy Space Center in April. The four astronauts took the world on a journey around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Mission Impact

For us, this is kind of mission completion now, said Reid Wiseman, commander. This taught us about ourselves, and it gave us context of how we’re going to get to the surface of the moon, added Victor Glover, pilot.

During their first trip back to KSC since making history, the crew answered questions from the media about how the mission has changed the conversation around space. It is such an honor to be in the position I’m in as someone who was inspired by so many, said Christina Koch, mission specialist.

Personal Reflections

Wiseman reflected on how grateful he is for the mission’s impact, highlighting an interaction with a woman at an airport. She walks up to me with a boarding pass that’s flipped upside down, and it just has a handwritten note on it, Wiseman said. She hands it to me, and it says, ‘Thank you for reminding us about joy and hope in the universe again.’

As for what’s next, Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, announced he will be stepping back from being a full-time astronaut in September. Retirement is an administrative process, leaving the military as a regular force member, but I’m very seized about what we are doing here as an international collaboration, Hansen said.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.