NASA's Artemis II Astronauts Prepare for Historic Splashdown After 10-Day Mission Around the Moon

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:47:00 +0200

The Artemis II mission is concluding after 10 days of orbiting the moon, with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen heading home for splashdown. The crew, who have been traveling in the Orion capsule, are set to reenter Earth's atmosphere at speeds up to 30 times the speed of sound. The splashdown is scheduled to occur off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. ET, after several key maneuvers to adjust their entry into Earth's atmosphere. The USS John P. Murtha Navy recovery vessel will assist in retrieving the crew and performing medical evaluations. Additionally, the crew honored Wiseman's late wife by naming a moon crater after her. The astronauts also shared heartfelt messages with their families, with Wiseman and his colleagues expressing gratitude for their support during the mission. In preparation for reentry, NASA’s systems, including a series of parachutes, will ensure a safe landing at about 19 miles per hour. This fin