Artemis II Astronauts Splash Down Safely After Record-Breaking Journey Around the Moon

SAN DIEGO — The four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on Friday, completing a nine-day voyage around the moon that carried humans farther from Earth than at any time in history.

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen were extracted from their Orion capsule and flown by helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha, where they underwent medical evaluations. NASA said they would be flown to Houston to reunite with their families on Saturday.

A Fiery Return

The capsule, which the crew named Integrity, was traveling at more than 24,000 miles per hour when it hit Earth’s upper atmosphere, subjecting its heat shield to extreme temperatures. The intense heat caused a planned communications blackout of about six minutes.

Mission control in Houston erupted in cheers when Wiseman’s voice returned: “Houston, Integrity here. We hear you loud and clear.” The spacecraft’s parachutes then deployed, and the capsule landed within a mile of its target. NASA commentator Rob Navias called it a perfect bull’s-eye splashdown.

Record Distance

During the lunar flyby on April 6, Orion reached a maximum distance of about 252,756 miles from Earth, according to NASA, eclipsing the record for the farthest human spaceflight set by Apollo 13 in 1970. The milestone came shortly after the spacecraft’s closest approach to the moon, when it passed roughly 4,067 miles above the lunar surface.

Relief at Mission Control

Flight Director Rick Henfling told reporters there had been a lot of anxiety, but also confidence, in bringing the crew home. He said the team breathed a sigh of relief once the capsule’s side hatch opened, and that the crew was happy and healthy.

Lori Glaze, NASA’s acting associate administrator, praised the astronauts’ teamwork and camaraderie. President Donald Trump welcomed the crew home, called the trip spectacular and repeated an invitation for them to visit the White House.

What Comes Next

The heat shield’s performance was a major focus of the mission after the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022 returned with unexpected erosion, prompting NASA to adjust Artemis II’s reentry profile. Engineers will now analyze data and hardware from the capsule.

The successful return clears the way for the next stage of the Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface and eventually build a sustained presence on the moon. NASA has not announced when the crew will make its first public appearance.

The mission was the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, and the first time humans had traveled to the vicinity of the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972.