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NASA’s Artemis II Crew Safely Returns After Historic Moon Flyby Mission

Saturday, April 11, 2026 · Updated Saturday, April 18, 2026 · By Unknown author

NASA’s Artemis II Crew Safely Returns After Historic Moon Flyby Mission

NASA recovery teams retrieve the Artemis II crew capsule from the ocean after splashdown, marking the successful return of the mission. Photo: NASA

NASA’s Artemis II mission has successfully concluded with a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The four astronauts completed a historic 10-day journey around the Moon — the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years.

The NASA Artemis II mission has successfully ended with a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on April 10, 2026. The mission marks the first time humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit and returned since the Apollo era.

Launched on April 1, 2026, the crew of four astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — traveled aboard the Orion spacecraft named Integrity. The spacecraft was launched using NASA’s Space Launch System from Kennedy Space Center and carried the crew on a free-return trajectory around the Moon.

During the approximately 10-day mission, the crew flew farther from Earth than any humans in history, reaching a record distance of about 252,000 miles. They conducted detailed observations of the lunar surface, captured high-resolution imagery of the Moon’s far side, and tested spacecraft systems critical for future lunar landings.

The mission included a close lunar flyby at roughly 4,000 miles above the surface, before Orion used the Moon’s gravity to slingshot back toward Earth. Re-entry occurred at extreme speeds of around 25,000 mph, with the capsule enduring intense heat and a brief communications blackout caused by atmospheric plasma.

Despite these challenges, Orion performed flawlessly, and recovery teams successfully retrieved the capsule shortly after splashdown. NASA officials confirmed all astronauts are in good health following medical checks.

Artemis II is a major milestone in NASA’s Artemis program, proving that deep space crewed missions are once again possible. It sets the stage for Artemis III, which is expected to return astronauts to the lunar surface in the coming years.