Victor Glover, Artemis II Pilot: 'It Felt Like Diving Backward From a Skyscraper'

Victor Glover, the pilot of the historic Artemis II mission, shared a visceral account of the intense experience of reentering Earth's atmosphere. Describing one of the most extreme sensations of the journey, Glover likened the reentry to "diving backward from a skyscraper," conveying the sheer force and disorientation involved.

This dramatic comparison highlights the physical and psychological challenges faced by astronauts during the critical phase of returning to Earth. The Artemis II crew, which included Glover alongside Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, successfully completed their lunar flyby mission, marking a significant step in NASA's program to return humans to the Moon.

Beyond the personal accounts of the reentry, the crew also took time to reflect on the achievements of their mission. They reviewed the key milestones accomplished during their voyage, underscoring the scientific and exploratory successes of Artemis II. This mission, the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, is paving the way for future lunar exploration and eventual human missions to Mars.

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It felt like diving backward from a skyscraper.