Artemis II Crew Completes Historic Lunar Mission with Pacific Splashdown

NASA's Artemis II mission concluded successfully on April 10, 2026, as the Orion spacecraft, named "Integrity," carrying four astronauts, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at 5:07 p.m. PDT. This marked the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972.

The crew comprised NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist). Their 10-day mission included a lunar flyby, bringing them within approximately 6,545 kilometers of the Moon's surface. During the mission, the crew captured a notable "Earthset" image, reminiscent of the Apollo 8 "Earthrise" photo, showcasing Earth descending behind the Moon's horizon.

Upon re-entry, the Orion capsule reached speeds up to 24,661 mph, approaching the record set by Apollo 10 in 1969. The spacecraft's heat shield endured temperatures nearing 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. After descending under parachutes, the capsule landed precisely in the designated recovery zone.

A coordinated recovery operation involving NASA and the U.S. Navy ensued. An elite Navy dive team made initial contact with the capsule, and the crew was subsequently hoisted by helicopter onto the USS John P. Murtha. The Orion capsule was also retrieved and secured aboard the vessel.

This mission serves as a critical step in NASA's Artemis program, aiming to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars. The successful completion of Artemis II paves the way for subsequent missions, including Artemis III, which plans to achieve the first crewed lunar landing since the Apollo era.