Artemis astronauts gird for re-entry and splashdown

Artemis II astronauts prepare for a crucial splashdown after a historic lunar mission, aiming for a safe return to Earth.

The Artemis II astronauts conducted a historic lunar flyby, gathered invaluable data and took in unprecedented Moon views, but one of the most crucial moments of their 10-day mission is still to come: Friday’s (April 10, 2026) splashdown.

Earlier this week, Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen voyaged further from Earth than any human before, in a mission considered a key stepping stone towards eventual crewed lunar landings, and more.

NASA Artemis II Launch highlights

They are scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 5:07 pm local time (0007 GMT), after which NASA and the military will help them get out of the capsule and fly them to a recovery ship.

Their journey has been rich in milestones and already resulted in stunning photographs that have captivated the imaginations of people on Earth.

But until the astronauts are home safe, it’s too early to talk about success, NASA’s Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya told a briefing on Thursday (April 9).