Artemis II Crew Prepares Capsule for Fiery Reentry

NASA and military teams gear up for the high-stakes return of the first lunar explorers in over 50 years

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:20am

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and oranges, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and dynamics of the Artemis II capsule's reentry through Earth's atmosphere.The Artemis II crew's fiery return to Earth caps their historic journey to the moon, a critical milestone in humanity's renewed exploration of the lunar surface.San Diego Today

The Artemis II astronauts are nearing the end of their historic journey around the moon, with their lunar cruiser now less than 150,000 miles from Earth. As they prepare for the perilous reentry and splashdown off the coast of San Diego on Friday, the crew has reflected on the surreal experience of being cut off from humanity while behind the moon and the profound moment of witnessing a total solar eclipse. NASA and the Defense Department are working together on the recovery operation, which will require the Orion capsule to hit a precise reentry angle to withstand the intense heat and forces of returning to Earth at nearly 24,000 mph.

Why it matters

The successful return of the Artemis II crew will mark a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, paving the way for future lunar missions that aim to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon. This mission has captured global attention and serves as a powerful symbol of humanity's continued exploration of space.

The details

The Artemis II astronauts - commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen - have been preparing their lunar cruiser for the fiery reentry process. During their time behind the moon, they experienced a total solar eclipse, which Glover described as "one of the greatest gifts" of the mission. NASA and the Defense Department have teamed up for the recovery operation, with the USS John P. Murtha ship and a squadron of military planes and helicopters ready to assist. The Orion capsule must hit a precise reentry angle within one degree to withstand the intense heat and forces of returning to Earth at nearly 24,000 mph.

  • The Artemis II crew launched from Florida on April 1, 2026.
  • On Monday, the crew became the most distant humans ever, clocking in at a record 252,756 miles from Earth before heading back.
  • The crew's reentry and Pacific splashdown off the coast of San Diego is scheduled for Friday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

A mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut on the Artemis II crew.

Amit Kshatriya

The NASA Associate Administrator.

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What they’re saying

“We have to get back. There's so much data that you've seen already, but all the good stuff is coming back with us. There are so many more pictures, so many more stories.”

— Victor Glover, Pilot

“There's a lot that our brains have to process ... and it is a true gift.”

— Reid Wiseman, Commander

“If you can't take love to the stars, then what are we doing? That's why we send humans instead of robots sometimes, that's why we have that firsthand witness.”

— Amit Kshatriya, NASA Associate Administrator

What’s next

The Artemis III mission in 2027 will see astronauts practice docking their capsule with a lunar lander in orbit around Earth, setting the stage for the Artemis IV mission in 2028 which will attempt to land two astronauts near the moon's south pole.

The takeaway

The successful return of the Artemis II crew will mark a significant milestone in humanity's return to the moon, demonstrating the capabilities and resilience of the Orion spacecraft and the Artemis program. This mission has captured global attention and serves as a powerful symbol of our continued exploration of space.