Mark Strassmann spoke with the four Artemis II crew members as they flew toward the moon, and they described the technical milestones, the unexpected sensations and the emotional weight of the mission.
They recalled the thrill of translunar injection: after briefing and retrograde maneuvers near 100 miles above Earth, the SLS burn sent them outward, and moments later the blue planet shrank to a distant sphere. “It blew us all away,” one astronaut said, explaining that in minutes they went from being under the International Space Station to 30,000 miles from Earth. Another noted that even for crewmembers who’ve lived on the space station for a collective two years, the ride on SLS and the views from 38,000 miles felt entirely new.
Jeremy, the first-time flyer, drew attention for his reaction to seeing Earth from this vantage, but the crew emphasized that the sense of wonder was shared by everyone on board. The flight’s launch and burns were both technically precise and visually stunning; the astronauts said it’s easy in the cabin to lose track of “where we are” because life on the spacecraft is comfortable and well supported.
When asked what they would have brought differently for a deep-space journey, the crew joked that they were so well provisioned they could only think of carrying a spare computer or bringing family along. One admitted that if family members had been up there, they might never come home.
To students and young people, the astronauts offered straightforward advice: find your passion and share it. They stressed that everyone has something to offer and that self-doubt is normal. Mentors, teachers and teammates help shape opportunities; persistence and collaboration matter as much as talent.
Victor reflected on the spiritual and unifying perspective of seeing Earth from far away. Looking back at their home as an “oasis” in the cosmos, he said, highlighted how special Earth is and why shared humanity matters. He suggested that the distance puts things in perspective — a theme echoed across the crew.
The mission includes a far-side lunar flyby that will put the spacecraft out of radio contact for about 40 minutes. The astronauts said during that “loss of signal” they’ll be focused on the mission and hope people on Earth reflect on togetherness, gratitude and the fragility of our planet — a reminder of Michael Collins’ similar role during Apollo 11, orbiting alone while the landing occurred.
Watching the moon grow in the window is a routine shift in mission focus, but the crew described unexpected surprises in the way both Earth and Moon appear from different vantage points. They’d seen Earth wax and wane in hours when close to the planet — crescents turning full and back — and they’ve begun to see features of the Moon that are never visible from Earth, including parts of the far side: Grimaldi, Orientale and other basins. One astronaut said seeing those features out the docking hatch made the Moon “look different” and brought home their place in the universe.
They also discussed preparations for lunar observation and science. As they go farther, the mindset shifts from Earth-centric tasks to lunar-focused observations and experiments. The crew is excited about doing more detailed observation time up close and personal with the Moon before returning home.
On mission humor and daily life: they credited Christina for being an “expert space plumber,” a nod to addressing spacecraft systems and surprises in orbit with good humor. They said they feel taken care of by the team and that mission planning covers almost everything — which is both reassuring and makes the mundane seem normal.
On the human side, the crew sent messages about faith and global holidays. Victor, reflecting for Easter, spoke about the importance of observances and how seeing Earth as one place highlights shared life and responsibility, urging viewers to think about togetherness across cultures.
As radio silence and mission milestones approach, the astronauts asked that people on Earth take a moment to appreciate each other and the unique place humanity occupies. They described gratitude for being part of this mission and emphasized how the experience — from the SLS ride to seeing the far side of the Moon — has been both technically demanding and profoundly moving.
They closed with thanks to the teams on the ground and to the public following the mission, and with a promise: they look forward to coming back and sharing more of what they’ve seen.