HOUSTON (AP) — The excitement is palpable among the crew of Artemis II as they bask in the success of their recent lunar flyby. In a remarkable feat, they established a communication link with friends aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday, making it the first-ever moon-to-spacecraft radio call. Unlike the Apollo missions, which saw astronauts isolated in deep space without any off-planet contacts, the current astronauts enjoyed a joyful reunion despite the vast distance of 230,000 miles (370,000 kilometers).
Commander Reid Wiseman continued to share breathtaking photos from the flyby, including an Earthset image that evokes the famous Earthrise shot captured during Apollo 8 in 1968.
The two astronauts, Christina Koch and Jessica Meir, have a special connection; they previously participated in the world's first all-female spacewalk in 2019. The Mission Control team in Houston facilitated this landmark communication with the four returning lunar travelers and four crew members currently stationed abroad the ISS.
As they approach their planned splashdown on Friday off the coast of San Diego, the Artemis II crew is not just completing their nearly 10-day test mission but setting the stage for upcoming Artemis missions that promise even more ambitious lunar explorations, including a planned lunar lander docking demonstration next year with Artemis III and a 2028 expedition aiming to land near the lunar south pole.
Commander Reid Wiseman continued to share breathtaking photos from the flyby, including an Earthset image that evokes the famous Earthrise shot captured during Apollo 8 in 1968.
The two astronauts, Christina Koch and Jessica Meir, have a special connection; they previously participated in the world's first all-female spacewalk in 2019. The Mission Control team in Houston facilitated this landmark communication with the four returning lunar travelers and four crew members currently stationed abroad the ISS.
As they approach their planned splashdown on Friday off the coast of San Diego, the Artemis II crew is not just completing their nearly 10-day test mission but setting the stage for upcoming Artemis missions that promise even more ambitious lunar explorations, including a planned lunar lander docking demonstration next year with Artemis III and a 2028 expedition aiming to land near the lunar south pole.
