Washington: After a dramatic journey around the Moon, NASA’s Artemis II astronauts are finally back on Earth and the spotlight has already shifted to what comes next: a potential mission to Mars.

US President Donald Trump on Friday congratulated the returning crew and hinted at bigger ambitions ahead.

“Congratulations to the Great and Very Talented Crew of Artemis II. The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I could not be more proud! I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. We’ll be doing it again and then, next step, Mars!”

According to NASA, the four-member Artemis II crew safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, marking a key step forward in human space exploration.

Soon after landing, all astronauts were successfully extracted from the Orion spacecraft and transferred to the USS John P. Murtha. From there, they were taken for routine post-mission medical evaluations.

NASA confirmed the update, stating,“All four of the Artemis II astronauts have been successfully extracted from the Orion spacecraft following splashdown… Next up, they will be escorted to the medical bay.”

Even before the splashdown, the mission delivered a breathtaking moment. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station caught a glimpse of the Artemis II crew as they re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams described the sight, “Our crew on the International Space Station caught a glimpse of the Artemis II crew as they re-entered the atmosphere from their journey to the Moon! We first saw a bright light and a trail as the service module burned up. We didn't see the Orion capsule itself as it re-entered, but we saw the wispy trail it left behind in the upper atmosphere. Overjoyed that our friends are safely back on Earth after their awe-inspiring mission!”

Artemis II is more than just a successful return—it’s a crucial step toward sending humans deeper into space. The mission tested systems that will be used in future lunar landings and beyond.

With ANI inputs