Artemis II Crew Returns Safely to Earth After Historic Lunar Mission

📅 April 11, 2026

NASA Marks Major Milestone as Astronauts Complete First Crewed Deep-Space Flight in Decades

The crew of Artemis II has successfully returned to Earth, concluding a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon and marking a significant advancement in human space exploration.

United States — The crew of Artemis II has successfully returned to Earth after completing a groundbreaking journey that took them more than 252,000 miles from the planet, orbiting the Moon and advancing human space exploration.

The mission, led by NASA, represents the first crewed deep-space flight of the Artemis era and a major step toward future lunar missions.

Led by NASA, the mission carried astronauts farther into space than any human mission in modern history, demonstrating critical capabilities for future deep-space operations.

Record-Breaking Journey Into Deep Space

During the mission, the crew traveled beyond the distances achieved during the Apollo era, completing a lunar flyby and extensive system tests. The flight validated key technologies, including navigation, communication, and life-support systems essential for long-duration missions.

Controlled Reentry and Recovery

The mission concluded with a high-velocity reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, followed by a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Recovery teams promptly secured the spacecraft and safely retrieved the crew.

The spacecraft returned to Earth at speeds approaching 24,000 miles per hour, relying on its advanced heat shield to withstand extreme temperatures during atmospheric reentry.

Watch the Historic Splashdown

NASA provided a live broadcast of the return, allowing viewers around the world to follow the final moments of the mission.

📺 Watch here: http://nasa.gov/ways-to-watch/
🕒 Splashdown Time: Friday, April 10, around 8:07 PM ET (0007 UTC April 11)

Advancing the Artemis Program

The success of Artemis II represents a crucial step toward upcoming missions, including Artemis III, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface.

Officials say the mission reinforces long-term plans to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and eventually support exploration of Mars.