![]() Welcome Home, Artemis II This was the mission: to push deeper into the unknown, with humanity, with feeling, with awe, and with an unwavering commitment to always, always choose Earth.
The 10-day Artemis II mission was a feat of disciplined human excellence, an expression of the sheer might of the human mind and spirit. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
On Friday evening, when the crew of Artemis II—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, it felt as though the entire world was watching. Crowds lined the beaches of California. Children on the East Coast stayed up late to watch the broadcast. Millions around the globe anticipated the safe return of four human beings—three Americans and one Canadian—who had ventured farther into space than anyone before them. This article is featured in Culture and Ideas. Sign up here to get an update every time a new piece is published. It felt magical. It felt like a miracle. But it was neither...
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