The hum of the office air conditioning is practically non-existent today, just a low, steady drone that feels like it’s been vibrating in my skull since 8:00 AM. It’s hard to focus on the news wires when the world feels so… loud. Regardless, the Artemis II crew is finally heading home. They officially kicked off the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight this Tuesday, leaving the moon behind them.
NASA dropped some pretty incredible photos—the kind that make you stop scrolling for a second—taken during their close approach on Monday. Seeing the lunar surface through the lens of the Orion spacecraft is a stark reminder of how far they’ve gone, even if it’s just a flyby. They’re really out there.
Actually, wait, let me check the schedule again—right, the splashdown. It’s penciled in for April 10. They’re aiming for the Pacific Ocean, somewhere off the coast of San Diego, California. Or maybe it’s a bit further out, but the coast is the general idea.
It’s strange to think about them floating in that capsule, preparing to drop back into the atmosphere. The whole mission has been a blur of updates, hasn’t it? One minute you’re tracking the liftoff, the next they’re already halfway back to the Pacific.
Anyway, the mission is moving toward its conclusion. NASA seems confident about the splashdown timing, which is good news I guess. It’s been a long time since we’ve had people that far out, and seeing the pictures of the Moon again… well, it’s definitely something to watch as we head toward the end of the week.