Artemis II Astronauts Reflect on 'Otherworldly' Moments in Space

One week after returning to Earth, the crew shares insights into their history-making lunar mission.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:51am

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An abstract painting in muted tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise celestial spirals, conceptually representing the profound experience of the Artemis II astronauts as they gazed upon Earth from the vastness of space.The Artemis II astronauts' awe-inspiring view of Earth's fragility against the vastness of space left them profoundly impacted by their historic lunar mission.San Diego Today

A week after the Artemis II crew returned from their 10-day mission to orbit the Moon, the astronauts are opening up about the profound and surreal experience. Pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, commander Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen described the 'fragility' and 'vastness' of space, with Wiseman saying he was left at a loss for words by what he witnessed. The crew set a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission was the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, marking a major milestone in humanity's return to the Moon. The astronauts' firsthand accounts provide insight into the emotional and psychological impact of venturing beyond low-Earth orbit, which will be crucial as NASA plans for future Artemis missions that could eventually lead to a sustained human presence on the lunar surface.

The details

During their 10-day mission, the Artemis II crew did not land on the Moon, but instead completed a test flight to pave the way for future lunar landings. The four astronauts - Glover, Koch, Wiseman, and Hansen - set a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, surpassing the previous record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970. On their return journey, the crew witnessed a solar eclipse from space, an experience that left a profound impact on them.

  • The Artemis II crew launched into space from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026.
  • The crew splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California on April 10, 2026.
  • One week after returning to Earth, the astronauts shared their insights in interviews published on April 17, 2026.

The players

Victor Glover

Pilot on the Artemis II mission and a NASA astronaut.

Christina Koch

Mission specialist on the Artemis II mission and a NASA astronaut.

Reid Wiseman

Commander of the Artemis II mission and a NASA astronaut.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian Space Agency astronaut who was part of the Artemis II crew.

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What they’re saying

“The sense I had was the sense of fragility and feeling small, infinitesimally small, but yet this very powerful feeling as a human being.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Space Agency astronaut

“I asked for the chaplain on the Navy ship to just come visit us for a minute. When that man walked in, I'd never met him before in my life, but I saw the cross on his collar, and I just, I broke down in tears. It's very hard to fully grasp what we just went through.”

— Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander

“I turned to Victor and I said, 'I don't think humanity has evolved to the point of being able to comprehend what we're looking at right now,' because it was otherworldly and it was amazing.”

— Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will continue to undergo medical evaluations and debriefings as NASA prepares for the next Artemis mission, which could see astronauts land on the lunar surface as soon as 2024.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has provided a profound glimpse into the emotional and psychological impact of venturing beyond low-Earth orbit, with the astronauts describing the experience as 'otherworldly' and leaving them at a loss for words. As NASA plans for future Artemis missions, these insights will be crucial in understanding how to best support and prepare astronauts for the challenges of deep space exploration.