Artemis II Crew Returns to Cheers After Historic Moon Mission

NASA Administrator welcomes back astronauts after successful lunar orbit flight

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:12pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly textured, abstract painting featuring sweeping arcs, concentric circles, and precise astronomical spirals in earthy tones, conceptually representing the complex forces and structures involved in the Artemis II lunar orbit mission.The successful Artemis II lunar orbit mission represents a giant leap forward in humanity's exploration of the Moon.Houston Today

The four-person crew of the Artemis II mission returned to Houston's Johnson Space Center on Saturday to a hero's welcome, receiving a standing ovation and hugs from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman after their successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean the previous evening. The astronauts described their lunar orbit flight as "the greatest adventure in human history."

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marked a major milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon. This crewed lunar orbit flight paves the way for the Artemis III mission, which will land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era.

The details

The Artemis II crew, consisting of four astronauts, successfully completed a textbook splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday evening after their 10-day mission orbiting the Moon. The astronauts were then transported to Ellington Field at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they were greeted with cheers, a standing ovation, and hugs from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 3, 2026.
  • The crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2026.
  • The astronauts arrived at Johnson Space Center in Houston on April 12, 2026.

The players

Jared Isaacman

The current Administrator of NASA, who welcomed the Artemis II crew back to Houston.

Artemis II Crew

A four-person team of astronauts who completed the historic lunar orbit mission as part of NASA's Artemis program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“the greatest adventure in human history.”

— Artemis II Crew

What’s next

The successful Artemis II mission paves the way for the Artemis III mission, which will attempt to land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era.

The takeaway

The safe return of the Artemis II crew marks a major milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon. This mission lays the groundwork for future lunar landings and long-term exploration of our nearest celestial neighbor.