NASA Artemis II Astronauts Return to Earth After Historic 10-Day Moon Flyby Mission
April 11, 2026
NASA’s Artemis II mission astronauts have safely returned to Earth after completing a historic 10-day lunar flyby mission, marking an important milestone in human space exploration.
Successful splashdown in Pacific Ocean
The Artemis II spacecraft, Orion, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at 5:07 PM PDT on April 10, 2026. The recovery operation was carried out by the U.S. Navy following the spacecraft’s return from lunar orbit.
Historic lunar mission
Launched on April 1 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Artemis II carried four astronauts on a journey around the Moon, including its far side, before returning safely to Earth.
The mission is considered the first crewed lunar flyby in more than five decades.
Crew members
The Artemis II crew included:
- Reid Wiseman (Mission Commander)
- Victor Glover (Pilot)
- Christina Koch (Mission Specialist)
- Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist, Canadian Space Agency)
The mission is notable for its diversity milestones, including the participation of astronauts making historic achievements in space exploration history.
Mission significance
NASA officials described Artemis II as a key step toward future lunar exploration programs. The mission tested deep-space travel systems and spacecraft performance beyond Earth’s orbit.
Future lunar plans
NASA aims to continue its Artemis program with future missions targeting lunar surface exploration and long-term presence on the Moon in the coming years.
