Artemis II Astronauts Welcomed Home After Record-Breaking Moon Mission

Crew of four received thunderous ovation at NASA's Johnson Space Center after splashing down off San Diego

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A highly textured, abstract painting in muted tones of blue, green, and gray, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise lunar craters, conceptually representing the Artemis II mission's journey around the far side of the moon.The Artemis II mission's record-breaking journey around the far side of the moon captured stunning new perspectives of our celestial neighbor and the vastness of space.Houston Today

The Artemis II astronauts, who completed a record-breaking trip around the moon, were welcomed home with a standing ovation at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The crew of four - commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen - arrived at Ellington Field after splashing down off the coast of San Diego the previous evening. The homecoming marked the 56th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13, whose famous "Houston, we've had a problem" refrain turned a near-disaster into triumph.

Why it matters

The successful Artemis II mission is a crucial milestone in NASA's renewed efforts 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 era. The mission set new records for deep space travel and provided stunning new views of the Earth and moon.

The details

During their nearly 10-day mission, the Artemis II astronauts voyaged deeper into space than any moon explorers in decades, reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) from Earth. They captured never-before-seen views of the lunar far side and witnessed a total solar eclipse, adding to the cosmic wonder of their journey. The mission also revealed a new perspective of Earth, with an "Earthset" photo showing our planet setting behind the moon, echoing the famous "Earthrise" shot from Apollo 8.

  • The Artemis II crew splashed down off the coast of San Diego on the evening of April 10, 2026.
  • The crew arrived at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on April 11, 2026.
  • The homecoming took place on the 56th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

A member of the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian member of the Artemis II crew.

Jared Isaacman

The NASA Administrator who introduced the Artemis II crew at the homecoming event.

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What they’re saying

“This was not easy. Before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on Earth. And when you're out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It's a special thing to be a human, and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“I have not processed what we just did and I'm afraid to start even trying.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II Pilot

“When you look up here, you're not looking at us. We are a mirror reflecting you. And if you like what you see, then just look a little deeper. This is you.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II Crew Member

What’s next

NASA is already preparing for next year's Artemis III mission, which will see a new crew practice docking a lunar lander in orbit around Earth, setting the stage for the Artemis IV moon landing in 2028 when two astronauts will attempt a touchdown near the lunar south pole.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission has reignited public excitement for NASA's return to the moon, demonstrating the agency's ability to safely send astronauts on deep-space voyages and capture stunning new perspectives of our planet and its celestial neighbor. This achievement lays the groundwork for the next phase of lunar exploration, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon.