NASA Welcomes Artemis II Crew Back After Historic Moon Mission

April 11, 2026

Washington: The first astronauts to travel to the Moon in more than half a century have safely returned to Earth, marking a major milestone for NASA’s Artemis program.

The crew of Artemis II — NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego at 5:07 p.m. PDT on Friday after a nearly 10-day mission.

Record-Breaking Journey Beyond the Moon

During the mission, the astronauts traveled a total of 694,481 miles, reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth — farther than any humans have ever gone, surpassing the record set during Apollo 13.

The mission demonstrated the capabilities of NASA’s Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System, which carried the crew safely to lunar orbit and back.

Successful Splashdown and Recovery Operations

After splashdown, the astronauts were assisted by NASA and U.S. military teams and transported via helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha for initial medical checks. They are scheduled to return to Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Mission Validates Deep Space Capabilities

Launched on April 1 from Kennedy Space Center, the mission marked the first crewed flight of the Artemis program. The Orion spacecraft, named “Integrity” by the crew, underwent extensive testing during the journey.

Astronauts evaluated life support systems, conducted manual piloting tests, and verified the spacecraft’s ability to sustain human life in deep space — all critical steps for future missions.

Scientific Experiments and Lunar Observations

The crew carried out several scientific experiments, including studies on how human tissue responds to microgravity and deep space radiation. These findings will help prepare astronauts for long-duration missions on the Moon and beyond.

During the April 6 lunar flyby, astronauts captured over 7,000 images, including views of Earthrise, lunar craters, lava flows, and even a solar eclipse from space. They also documented the Moon’s surface conditions to support future landing missions.

Pathway to Artemis III and Lunar Return

NASA officials hailed the mission as a success, emphasizing its role in paving the way for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a sustained presence.

With Artemis II complete, NASA and its international partners will now focus on preparing for upcoming missions, including building a Moon base and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.

The mission marks a significant step in humanity’s return to deep space exploration, more than 50 years after the last crewed journey to the Moon.