Artemis-2 Mission Success: Astronauts Round the Moon and Head Back to Earth

As part of the Artemis-2 mission, the astronauts who successfully rounded the Moon have now begun their return journey toward Earth. The Orion spacecraft reached the far side of the Moon, executed a U-turn, and is now speeding back toward our planet. During this voyage, the astronauts not only witnessed spectacular views of the Moon's other side but also caught distant glimpses of the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn. On this occasion, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the astronauts and extended his congratulations. A standout feature of this mission was its journey of over 400,000 kilometers from Earth—a feat that surpassed the records set by previous Apollo missions.

During the process of orbiting the Moon, the astronauts conducted extensive observations. Using powerful cameras, they captured images of features such as lunar craters and the impact sites of space rocks. A particularly remarkable moment was capturing both the Earth and the Moon within a single frame. They also requested that names be assigned to the newly identified craters. The mission was marked by several emotional moments as well. With the Orion spacecraft scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean soon, this mission stands as another pivotal milestone in the history of space exploration.