Artemis II Crew Splashes Down Safely After Historic Journey Around the Moon
Four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific after a nine-day voyage that took them further from Earth than any humans.
Four astronauts have returned safely to Earth after completing a nine-day voyage around the Moon, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean in a milestone moment for human space exploration. The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission touched down without incident, marking the end of the most ambitious crewed mission since the Apollo era.
The mission carried the astronauts further from Earth than any humans in history, surpassing records set during the Apollo program decades ago. The journey took the crew on a sweeping arc around the Moon, providing an unprecedented close-up view of the lunar surface and testing the systems aboard the Orion spacecraft.
Recovery teams were on standby in the Pacific as the capsule descended through Earth's atmosphere, slowing from thousands of miles per hour before parachutes deployed and guided it to a gentle splashdown. NASA confirmed that all four crew members were in good health following their return.
The mission is regarded as a critical stepping stone toward landing humans on the Moon under NASA's broader Artemis program. Engineers and scientists will now analyze data gathered during the flight to refine preparations for Artemis III, which is intended to put astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.
Celebrations erupted at NASA's Mission Control in Houston as confirmation of the successful splashdown came through. Officials hailed the mission as proof that the Orion capsule and Space Launch System rocket are ready to support future deep-space exploration, including eventual crewed missions to Mars.