Kochi: After successfully accomplishing the mission around the Moon, the four astronauts have splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean in a copy book style, BBC reported.
The crew are in a ship recovering from a nine-day voyage that took them further from Earth than any humans in history.
The Orion spacecraft in which they were travelling at a speed of 38,600km/h hit the Earth’s upper atmosphere to temperatures half as hot as found on the surface of the Sun.
Their safe return clears the way for the next stage of the Artemis programme to humans landing and building a permanent base on the Moon.
The capsule Integrity lost contact with mission control in Houston for six minutes during entry.
Astronauts – Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen were extracted from the capsule and taken by helicopter to the USS John P Murtha to undergo medical evaluations.
They would reunite with their families on Saturday.
President Donald Trump welcomed them home and said the entire trip had been “spectacular”, repeating an invitation for them to visit the White House.
Orion brings home astronauts
