Rockets and spaceships are cool, but the humanity of Artemis II resonated most

"NASA's Space Launch System rocket performed nearly perfectly during the Artemis II mission, demonstrating the reliability and capability of the technology designed for lunar exploration."

"The Orion spacecraft successfully completed its mission to fly to the Moon and back, proving its readiness for future crewed missions in the Artemis program."

"NASA's selection process for astronauts proved effective, as the crew returned with a renewed sense of purpose and perspective after their circumlunar journey."

"The return event for the Artemis II astronauts in Houston was marked by a sense of gravitas, allowing the achievement of the mission to take center stage."

The Artemis II mission has concluded successfully, with astronauts returning home after a nine-day journey beyond the Moon. The Space Launch System rocket performed nearly perfectly, and the Orion spacecraft proved capable of the mission. While some technical adjustments are needed, the selection of the astronaut crew has been validated. The return event in Houston was less extravagant than the crew announcement but carried significant weight, emphasizing the achievement of the mission and the astronauts' transformed perspectives after their journey.

Read at Ars Technica