✍︎ Angel Nicole Alima & Caryl Jane Ordeñiza
On April 11, 2026 at 8:07 p.m. EDT (0007 UTC), the Artemis II capsule safely returned to Earth after nearly 10 days in space. The four astronauts aboard—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen—completed a historic mission around the Moon. Recovery teams waited in the Pacific Ocean to secure the capsule after its splashdown.
Artemis II traveled a total of 694,392 miles around Earth and the Moon. The mission’s main goal was to test and prepare the spacecraft for NASA’s future lunar landing missions.
During the mission, the Artemis II crew performed the first human flyby of the Moon in more than 59 years. They also set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled in space.
The mission served as the first deep-space “test drive” of NASA’s Orion spacecraft. The astronauts carefully tested important systems such as life support, propulsion, and navigation. They also practiced manual piloting and proximity maneuvers while evaluating the spacecraft’s living conditions and long-distance communication systems.
By combining scientific work with critical spacecraft testing, the crew helped confirm that every stage of the mission—from launch to return—worked successfully.
The mission ended with a safe re-entry and splashdown, proving that the Orion spacecraft is ready for future missions that will bring humans back to the Moon.
References:
Warner, C. (2026, April 10). NASA answers your most pressing Artemis II questions. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/nasa-answers-your-most-pressing-artemis-ii-questions/
Artemis II splashes down in Pacific Ocean after 10-day mission. (2026, April 11). [Video]. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/artemis-ii-astronauts-return-nasa-moon-mission-rcna273651
Bolledo, J. (2026, April 11). Artemis II astronauts safely back on Earth after trip around Moon. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/science/earth-space/artemis-ii-astronauts-return-earth-after-trip-moon/
