The Artemis II astronauts’ ISS call gave space watchers a rare moment on Tuesday, as the returning Moon crew spoke with colleagues aboard the International Space Station. The conversation connected two crews flying in very different parts of space. One team was circling back from the Moon, while the other was living and working in orbit around Earth.
Artemis II commander Reid Weisman told the ISS crew that his team had been looking forward to the exchange. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen added that it was exciting to be in space alongside the station crew. The call came a day after a major stretch in the mission. The Artemis crew broke a spaceflight distance record, completed the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years, and shared more than 6 hours of views from the Moon.
ISS Crew-12 commander Jessica Meir asked the astronauts how Earth looked from their much greater distance. She said astronauts often speak of seeing Earth from above, but wanted to know how that feeling differs from seeing it from near the Moon.
Artemis astronaut Christina Koch said the view was especially striking because of the deep blackness of space. She said that seeing Earth from so far away made it feel clear how much all people on the planet share the same conditions for life.
The conversation also turned to life in space. The Artemis crew explained that their earlier missions aboard the ISS helped prepare them for the lunar journey. Koch said nearly everything they learned on the station was useful on this mission as well. She also mentioned the lighter side of spaceflight, including eating, handling water and moving in zero gravity.
Read:NASA Artemis II Mission: 5 Surprising Facts About the Moon Flyby
Weisman also shared a humorous moment from Hansen’s first trip to space. As the crew prepared to fire engines and leave Earth’s orbit, Hansen looked at the growing view of Earth and joked that it seemed like they might fly right into it. The remark made the crew laugh, adding a personal touch to an otherwise historic mission. It also showed how first-time and veteran astronauts experience space together.
Following the lunar flyby, the Artemis II astronauts are now on their long journey home. They are expected to splash down on Earth late Friday.
