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.