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Artemis II Astronauts Return to Houston After Historic Lunar Mission

Artemis II Astronauts Return to Houston After Historic Lunar Mission

The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission has returned to Houston after completing a historic 10-day mission around the Moon. The mission, which included NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, marked the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. The astronauts traveled a record distance of 252,756 miles from Earth and conducted a close approach to the lunar surface. After splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, the crew underwent medical evaluations before returning to NASA's Johnson Space Center, where they were reunited with their families and colleagues. The mission is part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.
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Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen and Artemis II Crew Return to Houston After Historic Mission

Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen and Artemis II Crew Return to Houston After Historic Mission

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and his fellow Artemis II crew members were warmly welcomed back in Houston after successfully completing their mission, which included a record-breaking lunar fly-around. The crew, consisting of Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean before flying to Houston's Ellington Field. The mission marked a significant achievement, surpassing the Apollo 13 record for the farthest crewed space flight from Earth. Hansen expressed gratitude towards his family, NASA, and the Canadian Space Agency, highlighting the crew's commitment and the historic nature of their journey. The event was attended by hundreds, including Canadian Space Agency president Lisa Campbell and NASA's Johnson Space Center director Vanessa Wyche, who praised the crew's accomplishments.
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NASA's Artemis II Crew Returns After Record-Breaking Lunar Mission

NASA's Artemis II Crew Returns After Record-Breaking Lunar Mission

NASA's Artemis II astronauts have returned to Earth after a historic mission that set a new record for deep space travel. The crew, consisting of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, splashed down near San Diego and were welcomed back at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. During their nearly 10-day mission, the astronauts traveled further into space than any previous human explorers, reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth. They captured unprecedented views of the lunar far side and experienced a total solar eclipse. The mission also marked the first time humans have flown to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
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NASA's Artemis II Mission Successfully Returns to Earth with Safe Splashdown

NASA's Artemis II Mission Successfully Returns to Earth with Safe Splashdown

The Artemis II mission, which marked the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, successfully returned to Earth on April 10, 2026. The Orion crew capsule, named Integrity, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at 8:07 PM EDT. The mission involved astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, who traveled around the Moon. During reentry, the capsule endured extreme temperatures and forces, with NASA engineers adjusting the trajectory to ensure the heat shield's integrity and crew safety. Recovery crews aboard the USS John P. Murtha retrieved the astronauts within two hours of splashdown, ensuring their safe return for medical evaluation.
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Lockheed Martin's Orion Spacecraft Completes NASA's Artemis II Mission with Successful Splashdown

Lockheed Martin's Orion Spacecraft Completes NASA's Artemis II Mission with Successful Splashdown

Lockheed Martin's Orion spacecraft has successfully completed NASA's Artemis II mission, marking a significant milestone in deep space exploration. After a 10-day journey around the Moon, the spacecraft, carrying a four-person crew, re-entered Earth's atmosphere at speeds nearing 24,000 mph and safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California. This mission demonstrated Orion's capability to transport astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and return them safely, a crucial step for future Artemis missions. The crew, consisting of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, conducted system evaluations and captured scientific data during their journey, setting a record for the farthest human spaceflight from Earth at 252,756 miles.
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Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen and Artemis II Crew Celebrate Successful Mission Return in Houston

Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen and Artemis II Crew Celebrate Successful Mission Return in Houston

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and his crew members were warmly welcomed back in Houston after successfully completing the Artemis II mission, which included a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The crew, consisting of Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, received a standing ovation at Houston's Ellington Field. The mission marked a significant achievement, surpassing the Apollo 13 record for the farthest crewed space flight from Earth and providing unprecedented observations of the lunar surface. Hansen expressed gratitude towards his family, NASA, and the Canadian Space Agency, highlighting the crew's commitment and the historic nature of their lunar fly-around. The event was attended by NASA officials and Canadian Space Agency president Lisa Campbell, who praised the crew's representation of Canadian values.
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NASA's Artemis II Mission Completes Historic Lunar Journey with Successful Splashdown

NASA's Artemis II Mission Completes Historic Lunar Journey with Successful Splashdown

NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully returned to Earth after a historic 10-day journey around the Moon. The mission, which included NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, marked the first time humans traveled to the Moon in over 50 years. The crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, completing a journey that took them 252,756 miles from Earth at their farthest point. The mission demonstrated the capabilities of NASA's Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, paving the way for future lunar exploration. The astronauts conducted various tests and scientific investigations during their flight, including piloting demonstrations and evaluations of the spacecraft's life support systems. The mission also set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth, surpassing the previous record set by Apollo 13.
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Artemis II Crew Completes Record-Breaking Lunar Voyage

Artemis II Crew Completes Record-Breaking Lunar Voyage

The Artemis II mission has concluded with the successful return of its crew after a 10-day journey around the Moon. The mission, which involved a lunar flyby, marked the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, surpassing the record set by Apollo 13. The crew, consisting of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. The mission demonstrated the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS), proving their readiness for future deep-space missions.
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NASA's Artemis II Astronauts Return Home After Record-Breaking Lunar Mission

NASA's Artemis II Astronauts Return Home After Record-Breaking Lunar Mission

The Artemis II astronauts, including Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, returned to Earth after a historic 10-day mission around the Moon. The crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, marking the end of a journey that set a record for deep space travel. The astronauts were welcomed back at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center with a standing ovation from NASA staff, military officers, and members of Congress. The mission achieved a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record. The crew captured unprecedented views of the lunar far side and a total solar eclipse during their voyage.
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Artemis II Astronauts Return to Earth After Record-Breaking Lunar Mission

Artemis II Astronauts Return to Earth After Record-Breaking Lunar Mission

The Artemis II mission, a significant milestone in NASA's lunar exploration efforts, concluded with the safe return of its astronauts to Earth. The crew, consisting of commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, was welcomed back with enthusiasm at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Their mission, which lasted nearly 10 days, set a new record for deep space travel by reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing the previous record held by Apollo 13. The mission included a flyby of the moon, providing unprecedented views of the lunar far side and capturing a unique Earthset photo. Despite a minor issue with a malfunctioning space toilet, the mission was deemed a success, paving the way for future lunar exploration.
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NASA's Artemis II Crew Returns Safely After Record Lunar Mission

NASA's Artemis II Crew Returns Safely After Record Lunar Mission

NASA's Artemis II crew, consisting of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, successfully returned to Earth on April 10, 2026. The crew completed a historic 10-day mission that took them farther into space than any humans have ever gone before. The mission included a flyby of the Moon's far side, setting a record for the farthest crewed spaceflight. The Artemis II mission launched from Kennedy Space Center using NASA's Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft, powered by ESA's European Service Module. The crew orbited Earth several times before embarking on a four-day journey to the Moon, reaching a closest approach of approximately 4,670 statute miles above the lunar surface. They captured unprecedented images of the Moon's far side and conducted scientific investigations. The mission concluded with a precise splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego.
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Artemis II astronauts hurtle home from moon toward splashdown

Artemis II astronauts hurtle home from moon toward splashdown

By Joey Roulette and Steve Gorman HOUSTON, April 10 (Reuters) - The four Artemis II astronauts, returning from the world's first crewed moon voyage in over half a century, hurtled back toward Earth on Friday aboard their gumdrop-shaped Orion spacecraft, headed for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean