The Orion capsule successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday at 7:07 p.m. Central Time, completing the Artemis II mission, as reported by CBC News during its live coverage. The landing occurred nine days, one hour, 32 minutes, and 15 seconds after launch, closely matching the planned timeline.

Mission Highlights

The crew of Artemis II, including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, travelled over 100,000 miles from Earth, reaching a point where the entire globe was visible from pole to pole. During the mission, the capsule entered the moon's gravitational sphere of influence and travelled around the far side of the moon. The crew made an emotional request to name a new crater on the moon after Carol Reed, the mother of astronaut Katie Reed, who had passed away.

According to CBC News, communication with the capsule was temporarily lost as it passed behind the moon, described by the crew as a “surreal moment.”

Reactions and Future Exploration

Retired Canadian astronauts Chris Hadfield and Dr. Roberta Bonder appeared on CBC News following the splashdown to discuss the mission’s success. Hadfield described the mission as “a marvelous and dreamed of ending for an amazing voyage,” emphasizing the novelty of the new rocket and spacecraft. Bonder highlighted the international collaboration involved, noting the inclusion of a Canadian in the four-person crew and the pooling of expertise.

Bonder stated that Hansen represents “the best that we have of a generation” and that his participation in the mission will inspire future Canadian explorers. She also noted that Hansen’s work will continue beyond this mission, carrying the torch for Canada.

Health Research in Space

The broadcast also featured a segment on the health research conducted during the Artemis II mission. NASA equipped the Orion capsule with six new radiation sensors and utilized “Avatar” chips – organ chips containing cells from the astronauts – to study the effects of radiation and microgravity on the human body. Researchers are also tracking changes to the astronauts’ immune systems and vision. According to Dr. Roberta Bonder, microgravity may even have positive effects on eyesight.

China's Renewable Energy Technology

CBC News also reported on China’s advancements in renewable energy and a potential offer to export its wind power technology to Canada. Envision, a Chinese company, is a leading manufacturer of wind turbines and is developing AI-managed wind hubs in remote areas, coupled with green hydrogen production. The broadcast highlighted the potential benefits and considerations of integrating Chinese AI technology into Canada’s energy grid.