Artemis II crew approaches the Pacific for splashdown off the California coast

NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II astronauts onboard is seen landing in the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast on April 10, 2026. The mission included a ten-day journey past the Moon and back to Earth. After splashing down at 8:07 p.m. EDT, recovery teams from NASA, U.S. Navy, and Air Force are working to retrieve the crew and the spacecraft aboard USS John P. Murtha. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls via NationPress)

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is shown as recovery teams work to secure it for transferring Artemis II astronauts—NASA’s Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist—to the USS John P. Murtha in the Pacific off California on April 10, 2026. The Artemis II mission spanned nearly ten days around the Moon and back to Earth. After splashdown at 5:07 p.m. PDT (8:07 p.m. EDT), teams are involved in retrieving the crew and spacecraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky via NationPress)

NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II astronauts onboard is seen landing in the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast on April 10, 2026. The mission included a ten-day journey past the Moon and back to Earth. After splashing down at 8:07 p.m. EDT, recovery teams from NASA, U.S. Navy, and Air Force are working to retrieve the crew and the spacecraft aboard USS John P. Murtha. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky via NationPress)

NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II astronauts onboard is seen landing in the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast on April 10, 2026. The mission included a ten-day journey past the Moon and back to Earth. After splashing down at 8:07 p.m. EDT, recovery teams from NASA, U.S. Navy, and Air Force are working to retrieve the crew and the spacecraft aboard USS John P. Murtha. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky via NationPress)