The press conference following the successful return of the Orion capsule concluded one of the most significant moments for the Artemis II program, with NASA leaders describing this mission as a turning point for human space exploration.
Orion Program Manager Howard Hu stated that today marks "the beginning of a new era of human space exploration," emphasizing the historic importance of this mission.
Meanwhile, Flight Director Rick Henfling announced that the next mission is "right around the corner," confirming that the upcoming flight is expected to take place next year.
According to official data, the Artemis II crew traveled approximately 700,237 miles during the mission, reaching a maximum speed of 24,664 miles per hour—a performance that demonstrates the advanced capabilities of the new space technology.
The conference also revisited the most memorable moments of the journey. Acting Administrator Lori Glaze highlighted the observation of a solar eclipse from space, describing it as a "completely unique experience."
She added that, in addition to the stunning images sent by the crew, a wealth of scientific data has been collected and will be analyzed in the coming weeks, helping to improve future missions.
In a more personal moment, Hu shared his emotions, saying that today's experience was "a thousand times better" than Star Wars, a movie he recalled watching with his late father.
With this success, NASA is moving ever closer to its goal of returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable presence beyond Earth's orbit.