The Artemis II mission successfully concluded today, Friday, April 10, 2026, with the Orion spacecraft splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT.
This 0-day flight around the Moon marks the first time humans have traveled to lunar distance and back since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The mission also set a new record for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth, reaching a distance of 252,756 miles.
The Crew
The four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule, named “Integrity,” have safely returned to Earth:
- Reid Wiseman (Commander) – NASA
- Victor Glover (Pilot) – NASA
- Christina Koch (Mission Specialist) – NASA
- Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist) – CSA (Canadian Space Agency)
Key Mission Milestones
| Time (EDT) | Event | Details |
| 7:33 p.m. | Module Separation | The Orion crew module separated from the European Service Module. |
| 7:53 p.m. | Atmospheric Entry | Orion entered Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 23,864 mph. |
| 7:53–7:59 p.m. | Blackout Period | A six-minute communications blackout occurred due to plasma buildup. |
| 8:04 p.m. | Main Parachutes | Three main parachutes deployed at 6,000 feet to slow the craft to 17 mph. |
| 8:07 p.m. | Splashdown | Successful landing in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. |
Recovery and Next Steps
The crew is being recovered by teams from the USS John P. Murtha. Following initial medical evaluations on the ship, they will be flown to San Diego and then back to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for a reunion with their families.
This successful test flight paves the way for Artemis III, which is currently targeted for 2028 and aims to return humans to the lunar surface.