The Artemis II crew has reflected on their historic 10-day lunar flyby, describing the experience as "glorious" after returning to Earth. The crew members, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, returned to Earth on April 10, splashing down off the coast of San Diego after setting a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans in space.
During a visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York, the crew met with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz. Waltz gifted the crew "MUNGA" hats, inspired by a famous presidential slogan, and asked them to share their thoughts on looking back at Earth from space.
"As a crew, we wanted to go for all and by all," Wiseman said, setting the stage for future Artemis missions. "We wanted to connect with humanity and show that this world can still do something exceptionally well when they put their mind to it."
The crew also shared their experiences of seeing the vastness of space and feeling both small as individuals and empowered by what humanity can accomplish together. Koch noted that the surrounding darkness made the planet feel "even more special than it's ever been," while Hansen described feeling tiny yet powerful in the face of human achievement.
Artemis III is expected to launch next year, and Artemis IV is targeted for the following year. The crew's visit to the U.N. comes after they met with former President Donald Trump at the White House and also spoke with him while orbiting the moon in early April.
