Artemis II Astronauts Praise Moonship's Performance

Crew highlights heat shield's resilience during reentry after lunar flyby

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:07pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in muted earthy tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and systems that enabled the Artemis II mission to the moon and back.The Artemis II crew's successful lunar flyby and safe return to Earth showcase the resilience of NASA's spacecraft and the agency's progress toward a sustainable human presence on the moon.Houston Today

The Artemis II astronauts who completed NASA's first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years gave high marks to their Orion spacecraft, especially the heat shield, for its performance during the nearly 10-day journey around the moon and back to Earth. The four-person crew - NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen - landed safely in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2026, breaking the record for the most distant human spaceflight.

Why it matters

The successful Artemis II mission puts NASA in a much better position to achieve its goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2028 as part of the Artemis program. The crew's feedback on the Orion's heat shield performance during the intense reentry is crucial for refining the spacecraft's design and ensuring the safety of future lunar crews.

The details

During a press conference at NASA's Johnson Space Center, the Artemis II crew shared details about their historic mission. They said they may have seen 'a touch of char loss' on the heat shield as the Orion capsule, which they named 'Integrity', plunged through the fastest and hottest part of reentry. However, the heat shield appeared to have performed well overall, with only minor charring observed. The astronauts also described the intense sensations of the parachute deployment and splashdown, with pilot Victor Glover comparing the freefall feeling to 'diving backward off a skyscraper'.

  • The Artemis II crew launched to the moon from Florida on April 1, 2026.
  • They landed in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2026, after a nearly 10-day journey.
  • Their homecoming in Houston on April 12, 2026 coincided with the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 13 launch.

The players

Reid Wiseman

Commander of the Artemis II mission and NASA astronaut.

Victor Glover

Pilot of the Artemis II mission and NASA astronaut.

Christina Koch

NASA astronaut and member of the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian Space Agency astronaut and member of the Artemis II crew.

Neil Armstrong

First person to walk on the moon, as part of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

Buzz Aldrin

Second person to walk on the moon, as part of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

Gene Cernan

Last person to walk on the moon, as part of the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Harrison Schmitt

Geologist and astronaut who walked on the moon as part of the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

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What they’re saying

“For four humans just looking at the heat shield, it looked wonderful to us. It looked great, and that ride in was really amazing.”

— Reid Wiseman, Commander, Artemis II mission

“That's what it felt like for five seconds. It was glorious.”

— Victor Glover, Pilot, Artemis II mission

“We're not going to be able to pound everything flat before we go. We're going to have to trust each other.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Astronaut, Artemis II mission

What’s next

NASA is already working on Artemis III, the next step in its moon base-building plans. The Artemis III mission will remain in orbit around Earth as astronauts practice docking their Orion capsule with lunar landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. Artemis IV is scheduled to follow in 2028, with two astronauts landing near the moon's south pole as NASA aims for a sustainable lunar presence.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission, with its diverse crew and record-breaking journey, marks a significant milestone in NASA's renewed push to establish a long-term human presence on the moon. The astronauts' positive feedback on the Orion spacecraft's performance, especially the heat shield, is a crucial step in refining the technology and ensuring the safety of future lunar explorers.