Artemis II Spacecraft Splashes Down Off San Diego Coast

NASA's historic Artemis II mission returns astronauts to Earth after lunar flyby.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:04am

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A highly textured, abstract painting in earthy tones of brown, ochre, and olive green, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts of the Artemis II mission.NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the agency's new Space Launch System rocket, will splash down off the coast of San Diego, marking a major milestone in the return to the Moon.San Diego Today

The Artemis II spacecraft, part of NASA's ambitious Artemis program to return humans to the Moon, has successfully splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California, marking the safe return of the astronauts after their historic lunar flyby mission.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step towards NASA's goal of establishing a long-term human presence on the lunar surface, paving the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The successful splashdown demonstrates the reliability of the spacecraft and recovery systems, boosting confidence in the Artemis program.

The details

The Artemis II spacecraft, which carried four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the Moon, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean approximately 30 miles off the coast of San Diego on April 11, 2026. The crew was quickly recovered by U.S. Navy ships and helicopters, and the spacecraft is now being transported to a nearby port for further inspection and analysis.

  • The Artemis II mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 31, 2026.
  • The spacecraft performed a lunar flyby, coming within 100 miles of the lunar surface, before returning to Earth.
  • The splashdown occurred at approximately 2:04 AM local time on April 11, 2026.

The players

Artemis II

The second mission in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era.

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 splashdown is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Artemis team. We're one step closer to putting boots on the lunar surface and establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

What’s next

NASA will now begin the process of recovering the Artemis II spacecraft and analyzing the data collected during the mission. This information will be used to inform the planning and execution of future Artemis missions, including the Artemis III mission, which is expected to land astronauts on the Moon as early as 2027.

The takeaway

The successful splashdown of the Artemis II spacecraft marks a significant milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, demonstrating the agency's ability to safely return astronauts from the Moon and paving the way for future lunar exploration and the establishment of a permanent human presence on the lunar surface.