'We're never going to come home': Artemis II commander recalls the most terrifying moment of his 10-day trip around the moon
Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman felt genuine fear when he saw the Orion spacecraft had gone farther from Earth than anticipated, the astronaut told an audience at the Starmus VIII festival this week.
NASA's Artemis II crew saw their mission come to a successful end, making history as the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. Commander Reid Wiseman recounted a terrifying moment during the ten-day journey when the spacecraft's odometer unexpectedly began to tick upwards as they passed their designated turn-back point.
Wiseman feared they had gone too far and would never return home. However, the counter eventually began to decrease, and the crew celebrated their safe return to Earth. Mission control had set the maximum distance from Earth at 219,667 nautical miles, and Wiseman watched as the number remained at that mark before unexpectedly increasing.
The crew's worries were soon allayed when the counter started to decrease again, confirming their successful return. Wiseman expressed his gratitude and awe for the dedicated Earth-based teams that ensured the mission's success, highlighting the crucial role they played in getting them back to safety.
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