Artemis II: Crew and Jeremy Hansen Return from Historic Lunar Flyby

The Artemis II crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego on April 10, 2026, concluding a 10-day mission that included the first human return to the Moon since 1972. NASA is targeting an 8:07 p.m. ET splashdown for the Orion spacecraft, which carries Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.

The return involves a high-velocity reentry phase, with the spacecraft entering Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 25,000 mph. During this descent, the Orion spacecraft is expected to endure temperatures reaching roughly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reentry Engineering and Recovery

To ensure a safe return, NASA officials conducted several days of testing on the Orion spacecraft, specifically inspecting the heat shield tiles for damage caused by small debris in space. NASA confirmed that no concerning issues were found prior to the reentry sequence.

Following the splashdown, a recovery operation will begin to extract the crew from the capsule within approximately two hours. The astronauts will be transported via helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha for post-mission medical evaluations before they are flown to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Lunar Flyby and Distance Records

The mission, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, reached a critical milestone on April 6, 2026. During Flight Day 6, the crew set a new record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by any human, reaching 252,756 miles at 7:02 p.m. EDT. This surpassed the previous record of 248,655 miles set by the Apollo 13 mission.

The crew’s closest approach to the lunar surface occurred at 7:00 p.m. EDT on April 6, 2026, flying at approximately 4,067 miles above the surface. This period included a planned 40-minute loss of signal as the spacecraft passed behind the Moon.

While flying over the lunar far side, the crew captured images and provided descriptions of specific terrain features. Their observations included ancient lava flows, impact craters, and surface cracks, and ridges. The crew also documented variations in texture, brightness, and color, providing data to help scientists analyze the composition and history of the lunar surface.

Mission Communications

Following the lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, the crew participated in a live conversation with President Donald J. Trump. During the mission’s live coverage, the astronauts also spoke with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and engaged with questions from social media users.

The Artemis II mission serves as a critical test of the Orion spacecraft’s capabilities for long-duration deep space flight and high-temperature atmospheric reentry, marking a significant step in humanity’s return to lunar exploration.