Artemis II Crew Prepares for Pacific Ocean Splashdown After Historic Lunar Flyby
The Artemis II crew is set to conclude their 10-day mission with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego, marking NASA's first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years.
NASA's Artemis II mission is approaching its conclusion as the crew prepares for a scheduled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) on Friday, April 10. This marks the end of a 10-day journey that included a historic lunar flyby, the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since 1972.
The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, carried NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. During the mission, the crew reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous record set by Apollo 13. They also captured unprecedented views of the Moon's far side and observed a total solar eclipse from lunar space.
As the mission nears completion, the crew has donned their launch and entry suits and completed leak checks in preparation for re-entry. Weather conditions at the splashdown site are favorable, with westerly winds around 10 mph and no significant precipitation expected. The recovery team, comprising NASA and U.S. military personnel, is stationed aboard the USS John P. Murtha to assist the crew upon their return.
The re-entry sequence involves several critical steps: the service module will separate from the crew module around 7:33 p.m. EDT, followed by a final trajectory adjustment burn at approximately 7:37 p.m. EDT. The spacecraft will then enter Earth's atmosphere, experiencing peak temperatures around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit and a communications blackout lasting about six minutes. Parachute deployment is scheduled to begin at 8:03 p.m. EDT, leading to splashdown four minutes later.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the mission's significance, stating, "We are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon again." He highlighted the geopolitical importance of maintaining a presence in lunar exploration and expressed confidence in the mission's success.
The Artemis II mission serves as a critical test flight for future lunar missions, including the planned Artemis IV mission in 2028, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.