After a 10-day mission that sent them far from the moon, NASA Commander Reid Wiseman says he and his three Artemis II crewmates are “bonded forever.”
Wiseman and fellow astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen were welcomed home in an emotional and rousing ceremony in Houston, one day after making contact with Earth.
“We are locked up forever and no one down here will know what the four of us went through and it was the most special thing that has ever happened in my life,” said Wiseman.
The mission broke the record for the farthest humans ever traveled from Earth, and personally, Reid said it was no small feat.
“This was not easy being 200,000 miles away from home. Like before you launched, it feels like the biggest dream in the world and when you’re out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends,” he said.
“It is a special thing to be human and it is a special thing to be on planet Earth.”
Glover, a Navy test pilot, said he feels grateful for everything that has happened.
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“I haven’t processed what we just did, and I’m afraid to even start,” he said.
And Koch, who was a mechanical expert, said it was difficult to even adequately explain what he saw.
“When we saw the small Earth, people asked our workers what ideas we had. And to be honest, what affected me was not only the Earth. It was all the darkness around it. The Earth was this lifeboat hanging undisturbed in the universe,” he said.
Canadian astronaut Hansen, who was the first non-American to fly on the moon, told the crowd that there was “a lot of excitement there” as a crew.
“What you saw was a group of people who wanted to contribute, they had a visible contribution and they took joy out of it,” he said, while inviting his fellow astronauts to hug on stage.
The President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Lisa Campbell, spoke at the event and reiterated the country’s commitment to space research and robotics.
“We believe we are in a good position to provide the skills that will support the infrastructure and independence needed to have a permanent man on the moon and you have shown us the way, Jeremy,” he said.
“Over the past 10 days, you have represented the best of what it means to be Canadian. You exemplify our deep values, discipline, humility and hard work. And the Artemis team, you four have shown what teamwork looks like at its best.”
That future goal of space exploration was emphasized by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee member Brian Babin.
Babin reminded the crowd of US President Donald Trump’s vision for the region.
“He has traveled further from Earth than any human before, pushing the boundaries of exploration, reminding us of the pioneering spirit that defines our great country – and it goes with Canada,” Babin said.
“This mission is an important step forward in realizing President Trump’s vision of returning Americans to the moon by 2028 and doing so before our competitors do. And there is still much work to be done, but this time should renew our confidence, and it certainly has.”
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