Artemis 2 Crew Returns to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

NASA and Canadian astronauts complete 10-day journey around the moon.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:36am

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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 mission to the moon.The successful return of the Artemis II crew marks a major milestone in humanity's ongoing exploration of the moon.San Diego Today

Four astronauts from the Artemis II mission returned to Earth on April 10, 2026, after completing a historic 10-day mission to the moon and back. The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

Why it matters

The successful Artemis II mission marks a major milestone for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually establish a permanent base on the moon. This mission tested critical deep space systems and paves the way for future Artemis missions.

The details

The Orion capsule, named Integrity, traveled at speeds up to 25,000 mph during the high-speed reentry, with the heatshield subjected to temperatures half as hot as the sun's surface. After a brief loss of communication, the crew safely deployed parachutes and splashed down in the Pacific, where they were extracted by the U.S. Navy and transported to the recovery ship USS John P. Murtha.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026.
  • The crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026 at 8:07 p.m. EDT / 5:07 p.m. PDT.

The players

Reid Wiseman

NASA astronaut and commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

NASA astronaut on the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

NASA astronaut on the Artemis II mission.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian Space Agency astronaut on the Artemis II mission.

Jared Isaacman

NASA Administrator.

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What they’re saying

“What a journey”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Mission Commander

“We are back in the business of sending astronauts back to the moon. This is just the beginning.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator

What’s next

The successful return of the Artemis II crew clears the way for subsequent stages of the Artemis program, including plans to return humans to the lunar surface and construct a permanent base on the moon.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in the Artemis program, demonstrating the capability to safely send astronauts beyond low Earth orbit and around the moon. This paves the way for future lunar exploration and the eventual establishment of a permanent human presence on the moon.