Artemis II Astronauts Return from Historic Moon Mission

NASA's Orion spacecraft set to splash down in Pacific after 10-day lunar voyage

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:42pm

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A highly textured, abstract painting in earthy tones of brown, ochre, and deep blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and systems involved in the Artemis II spacecraft's return to Earth after its historic moon voyage.The Artemis II mission's successful return to Earth marks a critical milestone in NASA's ambitious plan to establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface.Cape Canaveral Today

The four Artemis II astronauts, including the first Black astronaut, first woman, and first non-U.S. citizen to participate in a lunar mission, are hurtling back to Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft after a historic 10-day journey around the moon. The crew is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California shortly after 8 p.m. ET, marking the successful completion of a critical dress rehearsal for the Artemis program's goal of landing astronauts on the lunar surface later this decade.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in the renewed push for human exploration of the moon, which has not seen astronauts since the Apollo program ended in the 1970s. The successful return of the Orion spacecraft and its crew will validate key technologies and procedures needed for future Artemis missions, including the critical heat shield performance during re-entry, as NASA works toward establishing a long-term presence on the lunar surface.

The details

The four Artemis II astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on April 1st and traveled to a point 252,756 miles from Earth, exceeding the previous record set by the Apollo 13 mission. During their 10-day voyage, the crew conducted scientific experiments and tested the Orion spacecraft's systems in preparation for future crewed missions to the moon. The final phase of the mission will see the crew capsule separate from the service module, re-enter the Earth's atmosphere at around 25,000 mph, and deploy parachutes for a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

  • The Artemis II crew launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on April 1, 2026.
  • The crew reached a peak distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, exceeding the previous record set by Apollo 13.
  • The Orion spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California shortly after 8 p.m. ET on April 10, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

One of the four Artemis II astronauts returning from the historic moon mission.

Victor Glover

The first Black astronaut to participate in a lunar mission as part of the Artemis II crew.

Christina Koch

The first woman to take part in a lunar mission as a member of the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

The first non-U.S. citizen to participate in a lunar mission as a Canadian astronaut on the Artemis II crew.

Orion

The gumdrop-shaped spacecraft that carried the Artemis II astronauts to the moon and is now returning them to Earth.

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What’s next

NASA engineers will closely analyze the performance of the Orion spacecraft's heat shield during re-entry, which is a critical factor for the success of future Artemis missions. The agency will also debrief the Artemis II crew and incorporate their feedback to further refine procedures and systems for upcoming lunar voyages.

The takeaway

The safe return of the Artemis II astronauts marks a significant milestone in humanity's renewed push to explore the moon, inspiring a new generation of space enthusiasts and demonstrating the continued advancements in space technology and international cooperation that are paving the way for future crewed missions to the lunar surface.