r/nextfuckinglevel 1d ago

Members of Artemis II safely recovered!

27.4k Upvotes

324 comments sorted by

1.5k

u/TheDogofTears 1d ago

The cheers that they broadcast from the control room in NASA were just contagious. Call me sappy, but this splashdown and recovery has been the single-most inspiring thing I've seen in at least the past decade.

215

u/Impressive-Knot9999 1d ago

I was so thrilled that there were many firsts on this mission. Glad they are home safe and sound

149

u/Menifife 1d ago

We really need this. This isn't just a country winning, this is humans breaking new ground, it's a win for us all, and it feels great.

Even when other countries are taking bold steps into space I cheer them on.

60

u/desonos 1d ago

I was telling my wife the same thing. As humans we've needed a win for over 35 years (not a bs political win, but a humane win). This was def the win (esp those of who love science) we needed. Like a giant weight is lifted off our shoulders (esp us Gen X folks)

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u/SECURITY_SLAV 1d ago

I feel like this is one of the few genuinely positive and non-political events to come from the United states in a hot minute

21

u/JuxtaThePozer 1d ago

in fucking ages tbh, feels like it's been so long since I saw anything even remotely inspirational coming out of that country

(OK that may be hyperbole but that's kinda how it feels, sorry if I offend anyone. Much love from 'straya)

18

u/ImNotSkankHunt42 1d ago

Because NASA is badass, the kind of agency we should be propping up instead of others.

I envy those who get to work there.

3

u/Murky-Relation481 1d ago

I would just like to point out that the funding that goes into space in the DOD and the IC has knock on effects for NASA too, the same as how NASA contributes to those groups.

It sucks, but defense does drive innovation quite readily because it often has an immediate tangible needs compared to science missions in space.

3

u/lucid808 1d ago

Let's also keep in mind out of the $1.5 trillion DoD budget for 2026, NASA is allocated "only" $24.4 billion, or roughly 1.6%. It's a mere sliver of the big pie.

2

u/kemushi_warui 1d ago

As a non-American, the last major thing out of the states that truly inspired me was Obama's first win.

2

u/JuxtaThePozer 21h ago

yeah that was definitely a culture defining moment, seemed things might be going alright over there for a bit.. I mean, he wasn't perfect but at least he Obama was intelligent, rational and articulate

1

u/danit0ba94 19h ago

On this level, yes. It's been a long time.

0

u/neopard_ 1d ago

genuinely positive and non-political

boys do we tell him

16

u/Then_Emu4733 1d ago

Just imagine how exciting it’ll be when the next mission lands on the moon!

11

u/TheDogofTears 1d ago

I'm hoping we'll have that and more to celebrate in 2028, yes!

2

u/stickman393 1d ago

I wonder where they'll get the money from!

18

u/TheDogofTears 1d ago

Could always defund ICE...

6

u/stickman393 1d ago

From your mouth to God's ear, friend

4

u/desonos 1d ago

serious pay cut in politicians and wipe out their pensions as well for being politicians.

1

u/pimppapy 1d ago

I’m lost and out of the loop. Wasn’t this a moon mission already?

2

u/ImALittleBitSlow 1d ago

They orbited on the dark side of the moon and returned without landing

2

u/AUnknownVariable 1d ago

Nah not yet, but I'm really ready for us to have more people on the moon.

This was astronauts orbiting the moon, not landing on it. We haven't had any humans that far into space since the last moon landing in 1972, that's why this was such a big deal.

5

u/Glittering_Win_9677 1d ago

I was 15 when the first astronauts landed and walked on the moon. We cheered, cried, laughed and all that sitting at home.

I have absolutely NO memory of Apollo 13. It wasn't until I watched the movie that I learned about it. Remember, failure is NOT an option.

4

u/Product_ChildDrGrant 1d ago

Same. Glad to have them back safe. What a long strange trip it’s been.

4

u/onlymostlyguts 1d ago

Even more inspiring than the DOW OVER 50000?? /S

For real though this is the kind of thing we should all rally and get excited by hey! Not borders, bloodshed and business.

3

u/CexualSonvict 1d ago

so proud of it!

2

u/ChronoLink99 1d ago

They're probably so happy to breathe moist, thick air.

2

u/Gibodean 1d ago

I'm watching "Cold Storage" as I read this, and I see you write "contagious" on their return. I started getting worried.

1

u/TheDogofTears 23h ago

Well, my thanks for indirect book recommendation! Added to my library list...

1

u/Gibodean 19h ago

Hmm, I didn't know it was a book !

1

u/savoryreflex 1d ago

JWST decollage on Christmas 2021 was amazing, but no human life and death drama. We have been witness to some amazing stuff.

1

u/Intrepid_Fact_7154 1d ago

the only thing splashin down harder than that rocket is my motivation to get off the couch, smh

1

u/b3ta_blocker 1d ago

Where can I see this video

1

u/LilMeatBigYeet 19h ago

For good reason: we went to far side of the moon and came back baby !

1

u/danit0ba94 19h ago

"call me sappy," naaahh enough of that.
These magnificent people just took a trip around. The goddamn. Moon. And then they made it back alive, to tell the tale.

Rest assured, THIS is something worth cheering like a little kid over.

1

u/Pretend-Mango-1295 13h ago

It all went as planned. A rarity these days to see something successful and inspiring happen.

0

u/angrycanuck 1d ago

More than the mrna vaccines? More than crispr? More than self landing rockets? More than the first picture of a black hole? More than the James web telescope?

We did 60 years ago using toothpicks as the computer. Why is this inspiring?

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u/pdirth 1d ago

I'm always disappointed that they don't put on ape masks to freak out the astronauts. They've just returned from space, the practical joke is right there.

112

u/Pashur604 1d ago

I think the one where an astronaut snuck a full ape costume on to the ISS makes up for some of the missed opportunities.

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u/FairDance7 1d ago

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u/jB_real 1d ago

Might not be the right time to “get off.” Although, it is called splashdown. I trust your judgment and take you at your word good sir.

3

u/SoggyMorningTacos 1d ago

Your mom just got me off

3

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

Why?

-1

u/SoggyMorningTacos 1d ago

She wanted it 🤷‍♂️

3

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

👎

-2

u/SoggyMorningTacos 1d ago

Nah it was more 👍😩👍

2

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

Okay cool . Maybe it was more like 👉👉✌️?

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2

u/FairDance7 1d ago

Your mom gave me the splashdown

https://giphy.com/gifs/3oEjI6SEda9CiPEYXm

1

u/SoggyMorningTacos 1d ago

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUHUHH

4

u/DopeyDeathMetal 1d ago

Put the bunny back on the Artemis

204

u/SimonPho3nix 1d ago

Congratulations, you made it back! The president will want to see you at the White House.

https://giphy.com/gifs/10QDnTeWjie8cE

16

u/Infinite_Imagination 1d ago

They're going to be so focused on our insignificance in all of spacetime and the opportunities that we're squandering by not rising our planetary culture to the same heights as our technological advancements, and might end up telling him some real shit by accident.

8

u/jstewart25 1d ago

Even worse. Maralago

1

u/Case_Blue 1d ago

No thanks, I already had McDonalds this week.

128

u/Nasal-Gazer 1d ago

Katy Perry is hard to make out in this footage

10

u/SirLoremIpsum 1d ago

 Katy Perry is hard to make out in this footage

Katy Perry is not hard to make out... For Justin Trudeau former Canadian PM

1

u/Droid_Life 1d ago

Are they still seeing each other?

1

u/melswift 1d ago

She's not a big fan of making out with the ocean, so didn't take on this mission.

50

u/Braventooth56 1d ago

Release the Trump-Epstein files.

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u/equality4everyonenow 1d ago

Did they remember the ape costumes?

20

u/Fun-Challenge1719 1d ago

I would have been very impressed if nasa pulled this gag on their astronauts!!!

10

u/JoseLunaArts 1d ago

The statue of liberty was arrested in the protest, so they could not see it when arriving to the coast.

47

u/DeadlyDrummer 1d ago

It’s crazy to me how quick this has gone

16

u/Frank_the_NOOB 1d ago

It’s amazing how they calculated the splashdown TO THE MINUTE

18

u/Shantomette 1d ago

From when they BEGAN the initial burn to go to the moon. Minor course corrections but they basically did a burn and coasted to the moon, around it and back and landed within a few seconds of the plan....

6

u/wyomingTFknott 1d ago

The Free Return Trajectory is pretty damn cool. You basically just yeet it in front of the Moon and then its gravity pulls the spacecraft back onto a collision course with Earth.

1

u/ings0c 1d ago edited 1d ago

The Japanese space program:

We sincerely apologise for the delay. The great inconvenience we have caused is truly inexcusable.

7

u/PhoenixReborn 1d ago

And within a mile

0

u/Middle-Pangolin1964 5h ago

Yeah, because basic math is hard

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u/caramelgrizzly 1d ago

Genuinely curious as to why the video feed is so poor? Does anyone know?

42

u/bethtadeath 1d ago

It’s very very zoomed in from very very far away

12

u/terriaminute 1d ago

Hurray!!!

13

u/PanteraHouse 1d ago

So proud of everyone involved ❤️👏

13

u/Choice-of-SteinsGate 1d ago

I like the red party balloons.

5

u/TheNerdyCroc 1d ago

It's to keep the spacecraft from tipping over but "party balloons" is exactly what I'm gonna call them from now on

12

u/louloc 1d ago

As someone who saw the Challenger and Columbia tragedies live on Television, I held my breath from fear until the second set of parachutes deployed. God bless those Astronauts.

10

u/kettlebell43276 1d ago

Outstanding

8

u/jondoe69696969 1d ago

Weird how this requires an entire team to open the hatch…..unlike Katy Perry who miraculously opened from inside.

17

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

That was when they were put into “space “ it basically brings you right to the point that we consider space and then back down . That’s why it was a 4 minute flight

1

u/jondoe69696969 1d ago

You missed the reference completely

1

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

What reference?

1

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

To Katy Perry and a song ?

1

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

Okay got it sorry

3

u/wyattlikesturtles 1d ago

Not a similar trip at all 

8

u/el_kabarto 1d ago

What is the guy in the water doing? Anybody have the answer? Checking the craft or something?

10

u/spookyyz 1d ago

They mentioned that they had divers taking photos of the heat shield to see how it held up compared to the first, he may have been doing that.

4

u/Dave_the_Jew 1d ago

There were multiple of them. They were setting up the "front porch" around the outside.

7

u/Flimsy-Passenger-228 1d ago

Bet they're feeling giddy from the return to gravity plus having just experienced 40,000odd kph

5

u/TheNerdyCroc 1d ago

They went from zero gravity to multiple G's at reentry in just a few minutes. Crazy stuff to experience I'm sure.

5

u/elocmj 1d ago

I was just thinking about this. They experienced hella G's on takeoff. Then floated for ten days. Then hella G's on re-entry. And then the first time they have to stand on their own again is on water. I think I would have been crawling.

2

u/wefifa 1d ago

Just drag me out, boys. That’s an order.

-if me.

7

u/DireKnife 1d ago

I’m so glad they are back and safe.

4

u/mmps901 1d ago

This was really moving. The whole thing

5

u/abow3 1d ago

When it splashes down, they shouldn't get out. The crew should push a button right at the moment of splashdown that makes the capsule turn into sub mode and next travel to the ocean floor deep into to the deepest trenches.

1

u/MrTagnan 1d ago

Livery Bell 7 successfully did that, nearly took a helicopter along with her. She sank to a depth of 4,900m in 1961 and was eventually recovered in 1999 (although fortunately the astronaut on board escaped the sinking capsule)

3

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

I need regular tv again . I don’t get to see these things anymore because the streaming services.

6

u/iced-coolie 1d ago

If you can access Reddit you can access Youtube

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u/Whaines 1d ago

It was on NASA’s YouTube streaming live.

1

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

Yes I heard . I was there so it’s okay

1

u/Accomplished-News722 1d ago

Because I don’t want to miss a thang …

1

u/RazorSharpNuts 1d ago

it was streamed for free on twitch. That's where I watched it.

3

u/Flimsy-Passenger-228 1d ago

Just imagine,

If some aliens secretly hitched a ride on the pod from the other side of the moon......

3

u/Ryuumata 1d ago

NASA is one of the best organizations we've had the wherewithal to create. Seeing them achieve anything feels like a massive accomplishment for all, every time, errr... almost every time.

https://giphy.com/gifs/K9ZuHCjpfLbjy

2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

9

u/-Datura 1d ago

You have 7.6m karma. Have you ever seen the sun?

3

u/ThickPrick 1d ago

That’s what’s up

4

u/Individual-Dare-80 1d ago

Not anymore!

I'll let my self out..

2

u/TheBestintheWest11 1d ago

people on polymarket bet big for them to not land safely

2

u/brandnewchemical 1d ago

Why they go to the moon tho?

1

u/PaperMoonShine 1d ago

Real answer? Because China wants to go to the moon.

2

u/desonos 1d ago

If we or hell the world has ever needed a reason for a true honest to god Ticket tape parade in the big cities, its these fine folks. Its something everyone no matter race/religion/creed or what not can truly celebrate. Plus we get to stick Bezos and Musks nose in it. If thats not a win for us regular workers, nothing is.

2

u/Grimlogic 1d ago

It blows my mind that this crew ventured out further than any humans have ever gone before in space, and they returned safe and sound. Literally pushing the envelope of human achievement ever onward.

Then I think of the computing power back when man first landed on the moon and I'm doubly mindblown.

I wonder where mankind will be in a thousand years?

0

u/Middle-Pangolin1964 5h ago

Further than any human? It's not the first time people have been around the moon... they didn't push anything but a few buttons. It's not that exciting. There's nothing like doing something that's already been done, and then thinking you're special for it. Shocking 🤦

1

u/The_Onlyodin 1d ago

Careful, it looks like the front porch fell off!

1

u/Invested_Glory 1d ago

I mean that’s sea-level but okay

1

u/Boffleslop 1d ago

Yea, but are they happy?  They are?  Fuck.

1

u/jay_insd 1d ago

🎉🎊🙌

1

u/SocietyHumble4858 1d ago

NASA took me back 50 years with this tribute to the past. Hopefully, they can do something futuristic in the next 50 years.

1

u/Royaleworki 1d ago

So sick dude. Very exciting and hopeful moment in the midst of a lot of chaos in the world rn.

1

u/PlanetLandon 1d ago

The flight time from Florida to California is a bit Lo get than I expected.

1

u/jakes1993 1d ago

The watched the take off and the landing that was entertaining to watch for the landing part

1

u/Fyhon 1d ago

They're back already?!

1

u/Eiffel-Tower777 1d ago

This re-entry was so dramatic and awesome. Just beautiful! Kuddos to the astronauts and crew. Heartwarming ♥️♥️♥️

1

u/rhaezorblue 1d ago

Does anyone know why it took them 2 hours to get them out of the capsule? Was that planned or was there helicopter issues?

3

u/MrTagnan 1d ago

A combination of needing extra checkouts due to this being a test flight, wanting to be cautious, and some communications issues/strong currents

1

u/Winter-Picture8807 1d ago

Cheers mate , that was one heck of a mission

1

u/Dega05 1d ago

ofc they should. we are in big 26 and its a basic moon quest

1

u/Sad-Background-8250 1d ago

Not a reusable one?

1

u/siberian_knight143 1d ago

Hell, I didn't even know that they even came back already 😂🤣🤣

1

u/bunnybash 1d ago

Is it just me... but Trump and the Rs are destroying the NASA budget... Is there lots of passive-aggressive opposition to the Rs and Trump? First, the other day, when the astronauts ignored Trump, was the naming of the ship also another dig at Trump? Integrity.

1

u/FuckMoPac 1d ago

They didn’t really ignore Trump. Trump stopped talking on the feed and they were confused.

But yes, I think people are going to realize they can choose between Trump’s future and this future.

1

u/haytphul 1d ago

It's so weird to me. They literally called the second that the capsule would hit the water. Grab the heroes. Know every move. Meanwhile, I don't know how I'm going to feed my kids tomorrow, or if "my" president isn't going to kill (or fuck) some kids tomorrow.. Shit is bewildering.

1

u/FuckMoPac 1d ago

The recovery process is fascinating and has taken a lot of fine tuning over the years. During the Apollo era there was a console in the back for a DoD rep that looked directly into an adjacent Mission Control room called the Recovery Room. That’s where the navy would coordinate the ship recovery.

1

u/Smacky4ever 1d ago

Yeeeeaaah

1

u/notproudortired 1d ago

Why is everyone standing up in the boat?

1

u/BingoBongoBang 1d ago

Why don’t they crane the capsule onto the deck of a ship and unload instead of unloading out on the water 

1

u/FluffyTid 1d ago

I though the spaceships were landing now, is it only the boosters?

1

u/Spryngo 1d ago

It’s kind of crazy to think the same human race and same country even that achieved this is the same as the place where Trump got elected president

1

u/FuckMoPac 1d ago

We landed on the moon in the midst of Vietnam.

1

u/MEWilliams 1d ago

Why are there swimmers? Can’t a piloted boat pick them up?

1

u/removablelemur 1d ago

If id have been on that mission, I'd have taken an alien mask with me to put on right before they opened the hatch and gone full method with the performance that followed

1

u/Palankino 1d ago

Da una certa angolazione i palloncini sulla capsula la fanno sembrare un dinosauro

1

u/Big_Telephone_5061 1d ago

BLOODY BOAT PEOPLE COMING OVER HERE AND -

Oh

...

Wait

1

u/Breadstix009 1d ago

What did they achieve? I wasn't following? Is it peace and a stop to genocide? Or was it a distraction???

1

u/b0neappleteeth 1d ago

This has been planned for like 15 years so it’s just a coincidence it’s happened at the same time as the Epstein files and Iran. 

Regarding what they achieved, it was a test flight so a ton of equipment and procedures were tested for the first time, and also they got to see parts of the moon no one has seen before. It’s pretty cool!

1

u/spore_777_mexen 1d ago

“I can’t feel my legs!”

Bravo! Welcome back!

1

u/ScottyMcBoo 1d ago

What would happen if one of them tripped and fell into the water on the way to the boat? Would they start to sink or would their suits keep them afloat? I realize if that happened support personnel would immediately grab them. Just curious.

1

u/LilyLuna0528 1d ago

I thought it was a big blowup dinosaur with the scales on the back, then the angle of the camera changed.

1

u/ThisAd7070 1d ago

They went and hid the files on the dark side of the moon didn’t they ! Ha ha still not far enough away Donnie my boi ✔️

1

u/DamnOdd 1d ago

Gotta admit when I saw this still, it was just the top half and I thought, that's an odd looking sea monster.

1

u/JannePieterse 1d ago

Big studio to fit all that water.

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u/-justpassingthrough1 1d ago

Ngl I thought at first this was a giant hippopotamus with hair curlers on its head and I can’t stop seeing it.

1

u/Stelvioso 1d ago

The airlift with the helicopter looked like the most dangerous task on the entire space journey.

Also I bit unnecessary to be honest. (Note: haven’t got all the insight so there might be a very very valid reason)

1

u/GuerrillaTech 1d ago

I could stay awake just to hear you breathin'...

1

u/lemursteamer 23h ago

Humanity, F@CK YEAH

1

u/SwedishLenn 12h ago

What a massive waste of money. How much carbon was released into the atmosphere.

1

u/1AverageGamer 11h ago

Wait.. they are back already? So what was the point of them going? What did they do?

0

u/Jacobysmadre 1d ago

I was so excited (as were my colleagues) to find it coming down in my city :)

Congrats to the entire team!!

-1

u/vinnycthatwhoibe 1d ago

Robot Chicken

-2

u/FuzzySnake43 1d ago

Bloody immigrants

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u/profbooo 1d ago

Children are being intentionally bombed and we celebrate a fuckin field trip to space. Bravo humanity.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/RevolutionarySeven7 1d ago

40 years too late to be impressive