The Artemis II astronauts have completed their record-breaking trip around the moon.
Monday’s lunar journey comes after Artemis II surpassed Apollo 13’s distance record.
During the flyby, the three Americans and one Canadian were treated to never-before-seen views of the moon’s far side by eye and also a solar eclipse.
The crew temporarily lost contact with Mission Control as they swung behind the moon without stopping.
After they reestablished contact with Mission Control, the astronauts spoke with President Trump.
“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” the president said, adding that more lunar traveling is coming and ultimately “the whole big trip to Mars.”
Commander Reid Wiseman described seeing the moon from a new perspective, including parts of the far side never viewed by humans.
Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks.
By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.
Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles across.
Trump also asked about a period when communication with Earth was lost.
Pilot Victor Glover said the crew continued working, using the time to conduct detailed observations of the moon’s far side.
The four astronauts are now on a path back toward Earth with a splashdown return set for Friday. More activities are planned before then including a phone call with the International Space Station.
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