Artemis II astronauts recount rare eclipse: ‘Blew us all away’

• The Artemis II crew provided insights into their life and work aboard the Orion spacecraft after completing their orbit of the Moon.
• Astronauts described their mission as a “relay race” and expressed awe at witnessing an eclipse near the far side of the Moon, with one saying it “blew us all away”.
• The crew were reported to be in “high spirits” as they commenced their return journey to Earth following a record-breaking slingshot manoeuvre around the Moon.
• The mission’s lunar science lead Kelsey Young recounted the astronauts’ “screams of delight” upon observing impact flashes, which are brief bursts of light from space rocks hitting the lunar surface.
• The astronauts are anticipated to splash down in the Pacific on Friday, marking the conclusion of their test flight.