Artemis II Astronauts Return Home After Historic Lunar Flyby

NASA's Orion spacecraft sets new record for human spaceflight during 4-day journey back to Earth

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:10am

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones depicting the Artemis II spacecraft's trajectory as a series of sweeping geometric arcs and concentric planetary circles, conveying the scale and precision of the mission without using any text or diagrams.The Artemis II spacecraft's historic lunar flyby has set a new record for human spaceflight, paving the way for future moon missions.San Diego Today

The Artemis II astronauts have completed a historic lunar flyby, becoming the first humans in over 50 years to travel near the moon. After spending hours observing the lunar far side, the crew aboard NASA's Orion capsule are now making the trek back home and preparing for a water landing off the coast of California.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon, paving the way for a potential 2028 lunar landing. This historic flight has set a new record for human spaceflight, surpassing the distance reached during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.

The details

The Artemis II astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover of NASA, as well as Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency - spent hours on Monday, April 6, making observations of the moon's far side during a close lunar flyby. The spacecraft came no closer than 4,067 miles above the lunar surface, allowing the crew to witness sights that no other humans have experienced before. The Orion capsule is now on a 4-day journey back to Earth, using the planet's gravity to naturally 'slingshot' the spacecraft home.

  • On April 6, the Artemis II astronauts set a new record for human spaceflight, reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth.
  • The Orion spacecraft is expected to make a water landing off the coast of California on Friday, April 10.

The players

Reid Wiseman

An American astronaut with NASA who is part of the Artemis II crew.

Christina Koch

An American astronaut with NASA who is part of the Artemis II crew.

Victor Glover

An American astronaut with NASA who is part of the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency who is part of the Artemis II crew.

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the Artemis II mission.

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What’s next

The Artemis II astronauts will continue their 4-day journey back to Earth, with a planned water landing off the coast of California on Friday, April 10. This mission will pave the way for a potential 2028 moon landing as part of NASA's Artemis campaign.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II lunar flyby represents a major milestone in humanity's return to the moon, setting a new record for human spaceflight and providing invaluable data and experience for future Artemis missions. This historic flight has captured the public's imagination and reignited excitement for space exploration.