Chabot Space Center Hosts Artemis II Splashdown Party

Oakland science center to screen astronauts' return from historic moon mission

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:22pm by Ben Kaplan

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of ochre, sage, and indigo, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the Artemis II spacecraft's historic journey to the moon and back.The Chabot Space Center's public screening of the Artemis II splashdown celebrates humanity's return to the moon and the awe-inspiring journey of the four astronauts who ventured farther from Earth than any before them.San Francisco Today

The Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California is hosting a public event on April 10th to screen the splashdown of the Artemis II spacecraft, which will mark the first time astronauts have traveled to the moon since 1972. The mission, led by Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch, has already set several records, including the farthest distance any astronauts have traveled from Earth.

Why it matters

The successful Artemis II mission is a major milestone in the renewed push for lunar exploration, paving the way for future crewed missions to the moon. The Chabot Space Center's public screening event allows the local community to engage with and celebrate this historic achievement.

The details

During the six-day Artemis II mission, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft Integrity tested critical systems and conducted research on the effects of deep space travel on the human body. At one point, the spacecraft lost contact with Earth for over 40 minutes as it passed behind the moon. The crew also received a special audio message from Apollo 8 pilot Jim Lovell, who successfully guided the damaged Apollo 13 mission back to Earth in 1970.

  • The Artemis II spacecraft is scheduled to splash down on April 10, 2026.
  • The Chabot Space & Science Center will host a public screening event on April 10th to watch the splashdown live.

The players

Reid Wiseman

Commander of the Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight to the moon since 1972.

Victor Glover

Pilot of the Artemis II mission.

Jeremy Hansen

Mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Christina Koch

Mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Jim Lovell

Pilot of the Apollo 8 mission and commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, who died in August 2025.

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What they’re saying

“When Frank Borman, Bill Anders and I orbited the moon on Apollo 8, we got humanity's first up-close look at the moon and got a view of the home planet that inspired and united people around the world. I'm proud to pass that torch on to you ... Don't forget to enjoy the view.”

— Jim Lovell, Apollo 8 Pilot

“I must say, it was actually quite nice.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II Pilot

What’s next

The Chabot Space & Science Center will continue to engage the local community with educational programming and events related to the Artemis missions as NASA prepares for future crewed flights to the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission has reignited public excitement for space exploration, and the Chabot Space Center's public screening event allows the Oakland community to share in this historic achievement and look forward to humanity's return to the moon.