Reflections from Artemis II Astronauts After Their Return

Just days after the Artemis II astronauts wrapped up their lunar orbit mission, the crew took some time to reflect on the remarkable sights and experiences they encountered.

On Thursday, Artemis II astronaut addressed reporters. Mission commander Reid Wiseman shared a deeply touching moment he had upon returning aboard the Navy ship.

“When I saw the cross on his collar, I just broke down in tears,” Wiseman recalled.

He added, “I’m not particularly religious, but there was no other way to describe what I felt. So I asked the chaplain on the Navy ship if he could come visit us for a bit.”

Wiseman elaborated on the unexpected depth of their encounter.

“When this guy came in, I had never met him before, and seeing that cross on his collar made me overcome with emotion,” he continued.

Victor Glover, another astronaut on the mission, noted he was with Wiseman during this significant meeting. He mentioned, “I’m a religious person, but my feelings echo what Reid said.”

Both men acknowledged how overwhelming the past few days had been since landing back on Earth, indicating they still needed time to process everything they had witnessed.

“We haven’t really had a chance to decompress. There’s so much to reflect on,” Wiseman shared.

“I think there’s something profound in all that, and we’ll start processing it soon. We’ll probably have more to share next week,” Glover added.

During their conversation, they also recounted some incredible moments from the mission, including witnessing a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse.

“When the sun passed behind the moon, I turned to Victor and remarked, ‘I don’t think we humans are really ready to grasp what we’re seeing.’ It felt surreal, just incredible,” Wiseman said.

Interestingly, one of the craters on the moon’s far side, which is usually out of view from Earth, has been named in memory of Wiseman’s late wife, Carol, who passed away from cancer in 2020.