North Texas family, friends of Artemis II astronaut react to his homecoming

“He’s a piece of my heart.” said Aneesha Ross, Victor Glover’s cousin.

PLANO, Texas — After a 10-day mission orbiting the moon, four astronauts aboard Artemis II have made their return to Earth — marking a historic moment for NASA and space exploration.

Among them is Victor Glover, whose journey is being watched closely not just by the world, but by family gathered hundreds of miles away in North Texas.

“He’s a piece of my heart.” said Aneesha Ross, Victor’s cousin.

“He was Victor Junior or little Victor! We literally grew up together,” Ross said.

At Miami Vibes in Plano, Ross is hosting a celebration for her cousin—a watch party filled with pride, nerves and anticipation.

“If we could take over Texas we would,” she said. “He deserves all of that and then some.”

More than two dozen fraternity brothers and sorority sisters from Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma watched with bated breath as the Artemis II broke the Earth’s atmosphere and ultimately broke the waters of the Pacific Ocean. This is not a traditional homecoming. It’s a collective moment of waiting.

“They have to go through so much to get back. Joyous Anxiety, is that such a thing?” Ross asked.

“We’re tied to the screen and holding on to our seats,” said Stevenson.

The Artemis capsule broke through Earth’s atmosphere before finally splashing down in the Pacific Ocean—marking a safe return and a milestone moment.

“Victor, you have my heart. And he knows it. Yeah,” a tearful Ross said.

For Glover’s family in Collin County, it’s more than just a landing.

It’s a homecoming—hundreds of miles from home.