Artemis II Astronauts Struggle to Walk After Historic Moon Mission

NASA crew returns to Earth after 10-day lunar orbit, setting new distance record for human spaceflight

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:38pm

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An abstract, geometric painting in soft browns, greens, and blues depicting the human form in motion, with sweeping arcs and intersecting waveforms representing the forces of gravity and the body's adaptation to microgravity.The Artemis II astronauts' struggle to walk after returning from their historic Moon mission highlights the physiological challenges of spaceflight and the body's adaptation to gravity.San Diego Today

The four-person Artemis II crew, including NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego after their historic 10-day mission around the Moon. While the astronauts were able to walk under their own power, they appeared unsteady and required assistance as their bodies readjusted to Earth's gravity after spending over a week in microgravity.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the Moon, paving the way for future lunar landings and the eventual construction of a permanent lunar base. The astronauts' struggle to walk after their return highlights the physiological challenges of spaceflight and the need to carefully prepare crews for the transition back to Earth's gravity.

The details

The Artemis II spacecraft reached speeds up to 25,000 mph during its fiery reentry, experiencing temperatures around 5,000°F before safely splashing down in the Pacific. Once aboard the recovery ship USS John P. Murtha, the astronauts were seen being assisted off the flight deck, leaning on crew members for support as they staggered slightly. This is a common effect of microgravity, as the brain and body readjust to the pull of Earth's gravity after an extended period of weightlessness.

  • The Artemis II mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026.
  • The crew spent 10 days in space, including a lunar flyby that set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth.
  • The Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on April 10, 2026 at 8:07 p.m. ET.

The players

Reid Wiseman

NASA astronaut and commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

NASA astronaut and pilot of the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

NASA astronaut and mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian astronaut and mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Jared Isaacman

NASA Administrator who declared America's intention to begin work on a successful Moon landing and lunar base by 2028.

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What they’re saying

“We accomplished what we set out to do. It's good to be NASA, and it's good to be an American today.”

— Shawn Quinn, Manager of NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program

“Hopefully, history is kind to us.”

— Amit Kshatriya, Associate Administrator of NASA

What’s next

NASA's focus will now turn to reviewing the data from Artemis II before beginning on the plans for Artemis III, which will also involve a lunar flyby but no landing. The space agency's revamped plan for the Moon includes sending an additional space flight, Artemis IV, as soon as 2028 to land on the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission's successful return to Earth, despite the astronauts' temporary struggle with gravity, demonstrates the progress NASA has made in preparing for more ambitious lunar exploration. While the physiological challenges of spaceflight remain, this mission sets the stage for future crewed landings on the Moon and the eventual construction of a permanent lunar base, furthering humanity's reach into deep space.