Former NASA astronauts react to Artemis II trip around far side of moon

CBS News
April 8, 2026
2 min read

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Artemis II astronauts completed a historic trip around the far side of the moon.

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The Artemis II crew recently completed a historic trip around the far side of the moon, traveling farther from Earth than any human before. During this lunar flyby, the four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule became the first humans to visually observe certain parts of the moon's far side. This monumental achievement prompted several former NASA astronauts to share their reactions with CBS News. Their commentary underscores the significance of this milestone for human space exploration. The mission marks a critical step in NASA's Artemis program, aiming for a sustained human presence on the Moon.

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Artemis II Lunar Mission Returns to Earth

The Artemis II crew successfully completed their historic lunar fly-by, traveling farther from Earth than any human before. The mission provided stunning new images of the moon's far side and demonstrated significant progress in human space exploration.

Artemis II Mission Returns to Earth

The Artemis II crew successfully completed its historic trip around the far side of the moon, traveling farther from Earth than any human before. The astronauts are now safely returning, sharing new images and perspectives from their groundbreaking mission.

Artemis II Lunar Mission Return

The Artemis II crew successfully completed their historic journey around the far side of the moon and are now returning to Earth. The mission involved capturing new images and making a long-distance call to the International Space Station, marking significant milestones for NASA.

Artemis II Mission Returns from Lunar Flyby

The Artemis II crew has successfully completed its historic lunar flyby, traveling farther from Earth than any human before. Astronauts are now returning to Earth, sharing new images from the far side of the Moon and making a long-distance call to the International Space Station.

Artemis II Lunar Flyby Mission

The Artemis II mission, carrying a crew of four, is currently on a historic journey around the Moon. Astronauts are preparing for a lunar flyby, capturing breathtaking views and marking a significant milestone in human space exploration.

Artemis II Crew Returns from Lunar Fly-by

The Artemis II crew has successfully completed its historic lunar fly-by, traveling farther from Earth than any human before. Astronauts are now returning to Earth, sharing new images from the moon's far side and even making a long-distance call to the International Space Station.

Artemis II Mission Returns to Earth

The Artemis II crew has successfully completed its historic journey around the far side of the moon and is now returning to Earth. Astronauts have shared new images and even made a long-distance call to the International Space Station.

Artemis II Astronauts Return from Lunar Mission

The Artemis II crew has successfully completed its historic trip around the far side of the moon and is now returning to Earth. The mission involved capturing and sharing new images from lunar orbit and making a long-distance call to the International Space Station.

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