A week after Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, the team leader who opened the hatch of the spacecraft spoke with KNX News’ Pete Demetriou about the meeting between astronauts and Navy divers.
For Lt.Commander Jesse Wang, opening the hatch was the start of a brief but emotional reunion between aquanauts and astronauts.
“When we first opened the hatch… the first thing we heard was screaming, but you could immediately tell that it was screams of joy,” he said. “They were so excited to have the hatch open, breathe real air again, and see people outside of the four people that were in that capsule for 10 days. Not that they weren't getting along, but it was just that they were so relieved to be back.”
Wang said they had backups for any contingency, medical or mechanical, related to the astronauts’ return, and he’s simply glad there were no issues in getting them out of the spacecraft.
