Artemis II splashdown: How NASA Delivered the Moon‑Orbit Crew Safely Back to Earth

NASA’s Artemis II mission culminated in a dramatic Artemis II splashdown off San Diego on April 10, 2026, ending a ↑ 10‑day lunar flyby.

Artemis II splashdown timeline

At 5:07 p.m. PDT the Orion capsule entered Earth’s atmosphere, shedding velocity from ↓ 24,000 mph to a controlled descent under three 116‑ft parachutes.

Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen suited up in orange survival gear before the 7:33 p.m. separation of the service module.

“All systems performed as expected; we’re on track for a safe recovery,” said lead flight director Jeff Radigan.

Recovery helicopters lifted the crew from the water within two hours, transferring them to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks before a flight to Johnson Space Center.

Key technical hurdles included a revamped Avcoat heat‑shield, redesigned after the Reuters-reported cracks on Artemis I, and a shallower re‑entry trajectory chosen to reduce thermal load.

NASA’s official briefing highlighted that the mission’s success restores confidence for the upcoming Artemis III landing.

Analysis by Kaelen Frost (Lead Cybersecurity Analyst).