Artemis II Astronaut Tearfully Reacts to Chaplain’s Cross

The Artemis II crew returned to Earth after their lunar mission. After splashdown, commander Reid Wiseman asked to see the ship’s chaplain. He tearfully reacted upon seeing the chaplain’s cross.

Chaplain visit and emotional response

Wiseman said he does not consider himself religious. Still, he felt no other way to explain the experience.

When the chaplain entered, the sight of the cross overwhelmed him. He described the moment during a NASA press conference in Houston.

Re-entry and splashdown

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and the Orion capsule completed the mission successfully. The capsule had faced scrutiny over its heat shield before return.

Pilot Victor Glover recalled intense heat and flames during atmospheric entry. He said the spacecraft looked like it was inside a fireball.

After landing in the ocean, the crew went to a U.S. Navy ship for medical checks. Christina Koch screamed with joy when the hatch opened after splashdown.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen was part of the four-person team. All four underwent evaluations on the recovery ship.

Personal tributes and reflections

Wiseman learned a lunar crater will bear his late wife’s name. He called the tribute deeply meaningful and profoundly kind.

She was the mother of his two daughters. The gesture moved him and his family.

The team saw the moon’s far side and witnessed a solar eclipse from orbit. Wiseman described the eclipse as otherworldly and hard to comprehend.

Glover said he is a religious person and shared similar awe. Since returning home, the crew has been in and out of testing facilities.

They have not yet had time to fully decompress or to reflect on all they experienced. More recovery and debriefing are expected in the weeks ahead.

The Artemis II mission sent humans farther from Earth than ever before. Filmogaz.com will follow updates about the crew’s recovery and reflections.