NASA Artemis II Crew Completes Successful Moon Flyby

Orion spacecraft lands safely in Pacific Ocean after 10-day lunar mission

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:02am

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and grays, depicting the geometric shapes and orbital patterns of the Orion spacecraft's journey around the Moon, conveying the structural order and precision of the mission.The Orion spacecraft's successful lunar flyby mission sets the stage for future Artemis landings on the Moon.San Diego Today

After a 10-day journey around the Moon, the four astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission have safely returned to Earth. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, marking the successful completion of the first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo program.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's plan to return humans to the lunar surface, paving the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. The successful splashdown demonstrates the capabilities of the new Orion spacecraft and validates the systems that will be used for future crewed missions to the Moon.

The details

The Orion spacecraft, carrying a crew of four astronauts, spent 10 days in orbit around the Moon, conducting scientific experiments and testing the spacecraft's systems. The successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego marks the end of the Artemis II mission, which was the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft and the first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo program.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 4, 2026.
  • The Orion spacecraft spent 10 days in orbit around the Moon.
  • The spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, on April 14, 2026 at 5:07 PM Pacific Time.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Orion

The Orion spacecraft is NASA's new deep-space exploration vehicle designed to carry astronauts to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Artemis II

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

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What they’re saying

“This successful splashdown of the Orion spacecraft is a major milestone in the Artemis program and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the NASA team.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

What’s next

The next step in the Artemis program is Artemis III, which will land the first woman and next man on the lunar surface. NASA is targeting a launch for Artemis III in 2024.

The takeaway

The successful completion of the Artemis II mission marks a significant step forward in NASA's plans 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.