Artemis II Crew Prepares for Pacific Splashdown After Historic Moon Flyby

NASA's lunar comeback mission nears its dramatic conclusion with the Artemis II astronauts' return to Earth.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly textured, abstract painting in earthy tones of brown, ochre, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the Artemis II mission's epic journey to the moon and back.The Artemis II crew's historic lunar flyby and return to Earth captivates the world, inspiring renewed interest in humanity's exploration of the moon.Houston Today

The Artemis II astronauts are on track for a splashdown in the Pacific on Friday to close out humanity's first voyage to the moon in more than half a century. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen are set to hit the atmosphere traveling at Mach 32, a blistering speed not seen since the Apollo moonshots. Despite some technical issues during the nearly 10-day flight, the crew is eager to complete their historic mission and pave the way for future Artemis lunar expeditions.

Why it matters

Artemis II's successful completion marks a major milestone in NASA's renewed push to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon. The mission's record-breaking flyby and stunning lunar views have captured global attention, reigniting public interest in space exploration and the potential for future lunar missions and a lunar base.

The details

During the Artemis II mission, the astronauts racked up several key achievements, including breaking Apollo 13's distance record and becoming the farthest humans have ever journeyed from Earth. They also documented never-before-seen views of the lunar far side and savored a total solar eclipse. However, the crew also faced some technical challenges, such as issues with the capsule's drinking water and propellant systems, as well as toilet troubles that forced them to resort to old-time bags and funnels.

  • Artemis II launched from Florida on April 1, 2026.
  • The crew is set to splash down in the Pacific on Friday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

A mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian mission specialist on the Artemis II crew.

Jeff Radigan

The lead flight director for the Artemis II mission.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We can't explore deeper unless we are doing a few things that are inconvenient, unless we're making a few sacrifices, unless we're taking a few risks, and those things are all worth it.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Mission Specialist

“You do a lot of testing on the ground, but your final test is when you get this hardware to space and it's a doozy.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II Mission Specialist

“But we really hoped in our soul is that we could for just for a moment have the world pause and remember that this is a beautiful planet and a very special place in our universe, and we should all cherish what we have been gifted.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Mission Commander

What’s next

Next year's Artemis III mission will see astronauts practice docking their capsule with a lunar lander in orbit around Earth, while Artemis IV will attempt to land a crew of two near the moon's south pole in 2028.

The takeaway

Artemis II's successful completion marks a significant step forward in NASA's renewed push to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon. The mission's record-breaking achievements and stunning lunar views have reignited global interest in space exploration, paving the way for future Artemis missions and the eventual establishment of a lunar base.