Artemis II Crew Completes Record-Breaking Lunar Mission and Returns to Earth

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 03:58:00 +0200

NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully concluded with the safe return of its four astronauts after a 10-day journey around the moon, covering more than 695,000 miles. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, splashed down off the coast of San Diego after reaching a record distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record. The crew—commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian mission specialist Jeremy Hansen—conducted extensive scientific observations, including seeing the entire far side of the moon and witnessing a solar eclipse from lunar orbit. They also examined geological features, identified young craters, and observed previously unseen colors on the lunar surface, potentially linked to volcanic activity. Using a high-speed laser communication system, the astronauts transmitted photos, audio recordings, and sketches back to Earth for further scientific analysis. During the mission, they tested Orion’s systems,