Artemis II Crew Completes Historic Moon Flyby Mission

NASA's Artemis II spacecraft set to splash down off San Diego coast tonight

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:18am

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of ochre, sage, and indigo, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts of the Artemis II lunar flyby mission.NASA's Artemis II mission completes a historic lunar flyby, paving the way for future crewed landings on the Moon.San Diego Today

The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego, California tonight, completing a historic 10-day journey that included a flyby of the Moon. The successful mission marks the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo program ended in 1972.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface, with the ultimate goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon. This flight paves the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

The details

During the 10-day mission, the Artemis II spacecraft performed a lunar flyby, coming within 100 miles of the lunar surface. The crew conducted a series of scientific experiments and tests to evaluate the spacecraft's systems and prepare for future Artemis missions. The successful splashdown off the California coast will mark the completion of this historic journey.

  • The Artemis II spacecraft is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. ET on April 10, 2026.
  • The 10-day Artemis II mission began with the spacecraft's launch on April 1, 2026.

The players

Artemis II

NASA's second crewed mission to the Moon as part of the Artemis program, designed to pave the way for future lunar landings.

NASA

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

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What they’re saying

“This successful Artemis II mission is a major milestone in our journey to the Moon, and we're excited to welcome the crew home safely.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

What’s next

Following the Artemis II splashdown, NASA will begin preparations for the Artemis III mission, which is planned to land astronauts on the lunar surface as early as 2027.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a significant step forward in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the Moon, paving the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo program.