Artemis II Crew Completes Historic Lunar Flyby

Astronauts make first-ever moonship-to-space station radio call during journey home

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:26pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft earth tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex scientific phenomena observed by the Artemis II crew during their historic lunar flyby.The Artemis II crew's lunar flyby yielded stunning visuals and valuable scientific data, expanding humanity's understanding of the moon and its place in the cosmic order.San Diego Today

The Artemis II astronauts, still basking in the success of their lunar flyby, made history on Tuesday by calling their counterparts aboard the International Space Station hundreds of thousands of miles away as they headed home from the moon. This marked the first time a moonship has communicated with an orbiting spacecraft, a milestone not achieved during the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a major step forward in humanity's return to deep space exploration, with the astronauts' long-distance communication showcasing the increased connectivity and collaboration between different space assets. This mission lays the groundwork for future Artemis flights that aim to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The details

During the radio call, Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and astronaut Christina Koch, who had previously conducted the first all-female spacewalk, spoke with Jessica Meir aboard the International Space Station. The astronauts shared their awe-inspiring views of Earth from the moon, with Koch describing the 'blackness' of space surrounding the planet and emphasizing the 'specialness and preciousness' of our home world. The Artemis II crew also reported seeing brief flashes of light on the lunar surface, which may have been caused by a meteor shower or random micrometeoroid impacts coinciding with a total solar eclipse.

  • On April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew captured a striking 'Earthset' photograph during their lunar flyby, reminiscent of the iconic 'Earthrise' image from Apollo 8 in 1968.
  • The Artemis II astronauts are scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego, California on Friday, April 11, 2026, concluding their nearly 10-day test flight.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, leading the first crewed flight around the moon since the Apollo era.

Christina Koch

An Artemis II astronaut who previously conducted the first all-female spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

Jessica Meir

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station, who reunited with her 'astro-sister' Christina Koch during the historic moonship-to-space station radio call.

Kelsey Young

The lead lunar scientist at NASA's Mission Control, who debriefed the Artemis II astronauts on their observations of potential meteor impacts on the lunar surface.

USS John P. Murtha

The recovery ship that departed port on Tuesday to reach the target splashdown zone off the coast of San Diego for the Artemis II crew's return to Earth.

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What they’re saying

“We have been waiting for this like you can't imagine.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“I'm so happy that we are back in space together, even if we are a few miles apart.”

— Jessica Meir, International Space Station Astronaut

“It just made it even more special. It truly emphasized how alike we are, how the same thing keeps every single person on planet Earth alive. The specialness and preciousness of that really is emphasized.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is aiming for a splashdown off the San Diego coast on Friday, April 11, 2026, to wrap up their nearly 10-day test flight.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has not only rekindled humanity's deep space exploration ambitions, but also demonstrated the increased connectivity and collaboration between different space assets, setting the stage for future Artemis flights that aim to land astronauts on the lunar surface.