- The Artemis II crew are said to be in “high spirits” as they make their return journey to Earth following a successful lunar flyby, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- Lunar science lead Kelsey Young said the team were “looking forward to integrating all these lessons learned in future missions” after the four astronauts achieved a record distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometres) from Earth, exceeding the Apollo 13 mission's record.
- The crew observed and photographed the lunar surface, including previously unseen areas, and named two craters 'Integrity' and 'Carroll' in honour of their spacecraft and Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife.
- Astronauts experienced a personal solar eclipse, observed impact flashes from meteoroids, and witnessed an 'earthset' and 'earthrise' from their unique vantage point.
- Donald Trump congratulated the crew, hailing their mission as the start of a new era for American space colonisation, with their splashdown in the Pacific anticipated on Friday.
IN FULL
