Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth After Historic Mission

Phoenix police sergeant at center of controversy placed on administrative leave

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly textured, sweeping abstract painting in earthy tones of yellow, red, and blue, depicting the complex geometric patterns and natural spirals that govern the physics of a lunar spacecraft mission.An abstract artistic rendering of the intricate forces and trajectories involved in NASA's historic Artemis II lunar mission.Phoenix Today

The Artemis II crew has safely returned to Earth following their historic mission, while a Phoenix police sergeant at the center of a controversy has been placed on administrative leave by the department.

Why it matters

The successful return of the Artemis II crew marks a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. Meanwhile, the administrative leave of the Phoenix police sergeant highlights ongoing concerns about officer conduct and accountability.

The details

The Artemis II spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 10-day mission orbiting the Moon. This was the first crewed Artemis mission and paves the way for future lunar landings. Separately, a Phoenix police sergeant whose off-duty conduct sparked controversy has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

  • The Artemis II crew returned to Earth on April 10, 2026.
  • The Phoenix police sergeant was placed on leave on April 9, 2026.

The players

Artemis II

NASA's second crewed mission to orbit the Moon as part of the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.

Phoenix Police Department

The law enforcement agency for the city of Phoenix, Arizona.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

NASA will continue to analyze data from the Artemis II mission and prepare for future Artemis missions, including the first crewed lunar landing since the Apollo program. The Phoenix Police Department will conduct an internal investigation into the conduct of the sergeant placed on administrative leave.

The takeaway

The successful return of the Artemis II crew represents significant progress in NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the Moon, while the administrative leave of the Phoenix police sergeant underscores the ongoing need for accountability and transparency in law enforcement.