Artemis II Astronauts Splash Down After Successful Mission

Orion spacecraft returns four astronauts safely to Earth after historic lunar journey.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:41am

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones depicting the geometric arcs and concentric circles of the Orion spacecraft's journey, visualizing the complex scientific forces and concepts behind this historic mission.The Orion spacecraft's successful lunar orbit and return to Earth marks a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, paving the way for future crewed missions to the Moon.Houston Today

The four astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - have safely returned to Earth following a successful splashdown of the Orion spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean. The crew endured the intense heat and g-forces of re-entry before parachuting to a water landing, marking the completion of the first crewed Artemis mission to orbit the Moon.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon. This successful splashdown demonstrates the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and paves the way for future crewed missions to the lunar surface.

The details

After spending several days orbiting the Moon, the Artemis II crew capsule re-entered Earth's atmosphere at high speed, experiencing intense heat and gravitational forces. The spacecraft's heat shield and parachute systems functioned as designed, allowing the crew to splash down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Recovery teams were on hand to retrieve the astronauts and transport them to shore.

  • The Artemis II mission launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 3, 2026.
  • The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on April 6, 2026.
  • The crew capsule re-entered Earth's atmosphere on April 11, 2026.
  • The successful splashdown occurred at 6:41 AM UTC on April 11, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

An American astronaut and former U.S. Navy fighter pilot who was one of the four crew members on the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

An American astronaut and former U.S. Navy pilot who was one of the four crew members on the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

An American astronaut and former electrical engineer who was one of the four crew members on the Artemis II mission.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut and former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot who was one of the four crew members on the Artemis II mission.

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the Artemis program and the Orion spacecraft.

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What they’re saying

“We're thrilled to have our Artemis II crew safely back on Earth after their successful mission to orbit the Moon. This is a major accomplishment that paves the way for future Artemis missions and our goal of returning humans to the lunar surface.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

What’s next

NASA will now begin a thorough review of the Artemis II mission data to inform the planning and development of the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo program.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission represents a significant step forward in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, demonstrating the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and paving the way for future crewed missions to the Moon. This achievement marks an important milestone in humanity's ongoing exploration of the lunar surface.