Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth After Historic Lunar Flyby

NASA’s Artemis II mission has successfully concluded, with its crew returning to Earth on April 10, 2026, following a historic nine-day journey around the Moon. The mission pushed human spaceflight to its furthest distance ever recorded, marking a critical milestone in the effort to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a permanent base on the Moon.

The spacecraft’s return was a high-stakes operation. The Orion capsule entered Earth’s upper atmosphere traveling at speeds exceeding 38,600 km/h, with its heat shield enduring temperatures equivalent to half the surface temperature of the Sun. At 9:07 p.m. On Friday, April 10, the capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California.

Commander Reid Wiseman, who confirmed the crew was in good condition immediately after descent, exclaimed, “What a journey!” upon landing. The crew—consisting of Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen—was recovered from the capsule approximately 90 minutes after touchdown. They were transported to a U.S. Navy ship, the USS John P. Murtha, for medical evaluations. A medical officer reported that all four astronauts are “feeling exceptionally well,” while flight director Rick Henfling described them as “happy, healthy and ready to go home.”

This mission served as a vital test flight, proving the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the endurance of the crew. During the journey, the team captured groundbreaking imagery. Released on April 7, 2026, these photos include views of the Moon’s far side and an in-space solar eclipse captured during a seven-hour flyby on April 6, 2026. The imagery also documented a “thin lunar crescent” as the crew began their return trip on April 8, 2026.

The success of the Artemis II flyby demonstrates the continued evolution of deep-space navigation and thermal protection systems, paving the way for future crewed landings. As the program transitions to its next phase, the focus shifts toward the ultimate goal of landing humans on the lunar surface.