Watch: Artemis II astronauts answer questions as they fly back to Earth

The four crew members of NASA's Artemis II mission held a historic in-flight news conference from aboard the Orion spacecraft on December 11, 2024, as they traveled back to Earth, providing unique insights into their journey around the Moon and honoring a personal tribute. The astronauts—NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen—connected with mission control and journalists to reflect on their experiences during humanity's first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. During the 30-minute broadcast, Commander Reid Wiseman revealed the crew's decision to name a prominent lunar crater after his late wife, Carroll Wiseman, who passed away from cancer in 2022. This emotional tribute was a unanimous choice by the crew, symbolizing how personal stories and human connections extend even into deep space exploration. The astronauts described the crater's location near their orbital path and shared how Carroll's memory provided inspiration throughout their rigorous training and the mission itself. Beyond this poignant moment, the crew discussed the profound psychological and philosophical impacts of their journey. Each astronaut described how seeing Earth as a fragile "blue marble" from lunar distance reinforced the importance of international cooperation and planetary stewardship. They detailed their daily routines aboard Orion, scientific observations made during the flight, and how the experience has reshaped their perspectives on humanity's place in the universe. The conference concluded with the crew expressing gratitude to ground teams and excitement for their upcoming splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking the successful completion of this critical test flight before Artemis III's planned lunar landing.