Artemis II Astronauts Greeted After Splashdown

Recovery team opens hatch of Integrity capsule in Pacific Ocean

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:56pm

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A highly textured, abstract painting in soft earth tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and structures of space travel.The triumphant return of the Artemis II crew marks a major milestone in humanity's ongoing exploration of the cosmos.San Diego Today

Exciting new footage documents a recovery team opening the hatch of the Integrity space capsule after it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California. The crew greets the Artemis II astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - following their historic 700,000-mile journey.

Why it matters

The successful splashdown and recovery of the Artemis II crew marks a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era. This mission lays the groundwork for future Artemis flights, including the planned Artemis III mission that will land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The details

The Integrity capsule carrying the Artemis II crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego after completing its mission. A recovery team quickly arrived on the scene and opened the hatch, greeting the four astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - as they emerged from the spacecraft.

  • The Integrity capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 14, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

An Artemis II astronaut who was part of the historic mission.

Victor Glover

An Artemis II astronaut who was part of the historic mission.

Christina Koch

An Artemis II astronaut who was part of the historic mission.

Jeremy Hansen

An Artemis II astronaut who was part of the historic mission.

Integrity

The space capsule that carried the Artemis II crew on their journey.

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What they’re saying

“Such an incredible feeling to welcome you aboard Integrity after a nearly 700,000 mile journey. Forever thankful for your service to our crew and the nation.”

— Jesse, Steve, Laddy, Vlad, Recovery Crew

The takeaway

The successful splashdown and recovery of the Artemis II crew marks a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, paving the way for future missions to the Moon and beyond.