Moon-shot success

The crew of Artemis ii reentered the firmament of the Earth at 23,864 mph and about 5,000 degrees on Friday evening, as millions watched live and hoped the heat shield, which had developed cracks on Artemis i, would hold. People worldwide celebrated when they heard the voice of a crewmember resume communication after a tense radio blackout and saw the three parachutes finally open and the craft splash down in the Pacific Ocean. Navy divers helped the four orange-clad astronauts out of their capsule, who had traveled 695,000 miles to fly by the dark side of the moon on the first moon mission in more than 50 years, taking them farther from Earth than any human beings in history. Many have remarked that they felt inspired by the mission and the crew’s stunning images of the full circle of the Earth, of Earthset and of the moon—and moreover that they felt emotionally attached to the humanity, happiness and joy of the crew, which showed love for one another, emphasized family, praised the Creator, emphasized the beauty and rarity of the creation, and reminded all people on the planet of the command of Jesus Christ to love their neighbors as themselves.