At 7:07 pm, Central Standard Time, for Mission Control in Houston, Texas, the four member crew of the Integrity space capsule of the Artemis 2 mission, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. Completing their ten day mission to a single orbit of the Moon and back home.

During this mission, only the second of NASA’s newest manned rocket Space Launch System (SLS), and the crew capsule’s known as Orion, the crew, Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, had to perform many particular tests of both themselves, the SLS, and the Orion capsule. The mission was a complete success save for a few minor hiccups, thank you Microsoft for still not having Outlook functioning properly and I guess there is still a little work to be done the crew toilet.

The images this crew were able to capture as they flew away from Earth, circled the Moon around her dark side, and then as they returned are simple breathtaking and my words cannot do them justice. Please visit NASA’s Artemis II Lunar Flyby and take a look for your self.

Since childhood I have always been a fan of NASA and all of the important work that program has done over the decades. It’s been a rough few years getting back to this level of activity and mission importance and I am so happy for this win. As amazing as this mission was, we are reminded, that it was only the second mission of many still to come. Up next for Artemis is a more through test of the Orion capsule and maneuvering for docking with the lunar landing system. Then after that an Artemis mission to put humans back on the surface of the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

There is a wonderful YouTube video summary of the entire Artemis 2 mission from launch through recovery posted by the team at The Space Race, I really encourage you to check it out. What Exactly Happened on Artemis 2

Regards, Darren
darren.robinette@me.com