Artemis II Splashdown Nears as Historic Moon Mission Ends

NASA's Orion spacecraft set to return to Earth after trailblazing journey around the Moon.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:54pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft colors, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise orbital spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and trajectories involved in the Artemis II mission's return to Earth.The Artemis II mission's historic journey around the Moon and back to Earth is captured in a bold, abstract scientific illustration.San Diego Today

The Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of NASA's new Orion spacecraft, is nearing its conclusion as the astronauts prepare to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Friday, April 10. After spending nine days in space, including a historic flyby of the Moon, the crew will endure a fiery reentry through Earth's atmosphere before deploying parachutes for a water landing.

Why it matters

The successful completion of the Artemis II mission will pave the way for future crewed missions to the Moon, including a potential landing in 2028. This mission marks a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon.

The details

During their return to Earth, the Artemis II astronauts will test out their gear and conduct manual piloting demonstrations of the Orion spacecraft. The vehicle's service module will separate and burn up in the atmosphere, exposing the heat shield that will protect the crew module from the intense 3,000-degree Fahrenheit conditions during reentry. The spacecraft will then deploy a series of parachutes to slow its descent before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.

  • The Orion spacecraft is due to reenter Earth's atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10 around 8:07 p.m. ET.
  • On Thursday, April 9, the Artemis II astronauts will work with flight control teams to review landing procedures and prepare the Orion vehicle for reentry.
  • The last engine firing to refine the spacecraft's trajectory is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 10, about five hours before the final push through Earth's atmosphere.

The players

Reid Wiseman

NASA astronaut and commander of the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

NASA astronaut who became the first woman to venture near the Moon during the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

NASA astronaut who became the first Black man to travel near the Moon during the Artemis II mission.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian Space Agency astronaut who became the first person from Canada to go near the Moon during the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“The successful completion of the Artemis II mission will pave the way for future crewed missions to the Moon, including a potential landing in 2028.”

— Eric Lagatta, Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network

What’s next

After splashdown, the Artemis II astronauts will undergo medical evaluations and begin transitioning back to life under Earth's gravity. The successful return of the crew will be a major milestone for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has been a historic journey, with the crew making several firsts, including the first woman and first Black man to venture near the Moon. The successful completion of this mission will pave the way for future crewed Artemis missions, including a potential Moon landing in 2028, as NASA continues its ambitious plans to return humans to the lunar surface.