Artemis II crew returns to Earth after lunar flight

NASA’s four Artemis II astronauts are homeward bound after successfully completing a lunar flyby that saw them travel deeper into space than any other humans, Euronews writes.

NASA’s mission control in Houston regained contact with the crew after they temporarily lost signal for some 40 minutes, as their spacecraft passed behind Earth’s natural satellite.

The temporary loss of communication was expected as the Artemis II spacecraft passed out of Earth’s direct line of sight behind the far side of the Moon.

“It is so great to hear from Earth again,” said astronaut Christina Koch, as the crewmembers were once again able to speak with humans on their home planet.

“We will always choose Earth, we will always choose each other.”

US President Donald Trump called and congratulated the Artemis astronauts circling the Moon for making “history,” telling them they’ve “made all America really proud, incredibly proud.”