Artemis II crew talks to ABC News from space: Their journey so far and what’s ahead

The Artemis II mission embarked on Wednesday, with four astronauts on board for a groundbreaking 10-day journey around the moon, offering them unparalleled views along the way.

A day after the launch, ABC News’ Gio Benitez had the opportunity to speak with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from their Orion spacecraft about their experiences so far and their expectations for the days ahead.

Commander Wiseman was awe-struck by the view of Earth from space on Thursday, describing it as seeing the entire globe from pole to pole. He mentioned that they could even spot Africa, Europe, and the northern lights, which left all four crew members in awe.

This mission signifies the first time humans have ventured beyond low-Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission that landed on the moon in 1972. The crew is embarking on a 685,000-mile journey around the moon, also known as a lunar fly-by.

The launch on Wednesday garnered global attention as the crew successfully took off at 6:35 p.m. ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Hansen, the mission specialist from the Canadian Space Agency, expressed his disbelief and immense joy as the rocket boosters ignited, propelling them off the launch pad.

Koch, a mission specialist with the longest single spaceflight record for a woman at 328 days, addressed the toilet issue onboard the spacecraft, which was resolved after launch. She humorously referred to herself as the “space plumber” and emphasized the importance of the onboard equipment.

Glover, the mission pilot set to become the first person of color to journey to the moon, highlighted the unity of humanity from the vantage point of high Earth orbit. He emphasized that regardless of origin or appearance, all humans are one people.

Before the interview with ABC News, the Artemis II crew successfully completed a critical milestone in the mission—the translunar injection burn, which propelled the Orion spacecraft out of Earth’s orbit towards the moon. NASA’s acting associate administrator, Lori Glaze, commended the flawless execution of this crucial maneuver.

Moving forward, the crew will rely on the laws of orbital mechanics to guide them to the moon, around its far side, and back to Earth. The mission continues to showcase the incredible achievements that humanity can accomplish when differences are embraced and strengths are combined towards a common goal.