Artemis II astronauts return to Earth after first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years

Four astronauts have safely returned to Earth after completing humanity's first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century, marking a major milestone for space exploration and NASA's ambitious Artemis program.^[1][2] The Orion spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, splashed down at 5:07 p.m. PDT on Friday, April 10, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.^[1]

The nearly 10-day mission saw the crew travel farther from Earth than any humans in history, reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles during their lunar flyby.^[1][3] This distance represents a new record for human spaceflight and underscores the technical achievement required to safely conduct such a mission.^[3] The crew traveled a total of 694,481 miles throughout the entire journey, validating critical systems of the Orion spacecraft that will be essential for future deep-space exploration.^[5]

After splashdown, the astronauts were quickly recovered by a combined NASA and U.S. military team that assisted them from the spacecraft and transported them via helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha for initial medical checkups.^[1] According to mission commander Reid Wiseman, all four astronauts were in good condition following their return.^[2] The crew arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Saturday, April 11, where they were welcomed at a public event the following day.

The Artemis II mission served as a critical test of multiple spacecraft systems, including life support capabilities and manual piloting procedures.^[5] NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the significance of the achievement, stating: "After a brief 53-year intermission, the show goes on. NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon and bringing them home safely."^[5] The mission also marked the first time the Space Launch System—a massive 322-foot-tall rocket—was used to launch humans into deep space, validating hardware that will be key to NASA's plans for establishing a permanent lunar base.^[5]

During their first public remarks in Houston, the crew reflected emotionally on their experience, with commander Wiseman noting that the four astronauts are now "bonded forever."^[4] Mission Specialist Christina Koch emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration, stating: "Planet Earth, you are a crew," highlighting how the perspective gained from viewing Earth from more than 200,000 miles away reinforced the interconnectedness of humanity.^[5] The successful return has reinvigorated NASA's lunar exploration program after decades of absence from Moon missions, positioning the agency to pursue its next phase of ambitious objectives in space exploration.