Artemis II astronauts return to Earth, capping historic NASA mission, in photos

In this photo provided by NASA, the Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crewmembers aboard approaches the surface of the Pacific Ocean for splashdown off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
In this photo provided by NASA, the Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crewmembers aboard approaches the surface of the Pacific Ocean for splashdown off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew, counterclockwise from top left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover pose with eclipse viewers during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew, counterclockwise from top left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover pose with eclipse viewers during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)
In this photo provided by NASA, recovery teams work to secure the Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II crewmembers after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)
In this photo provided by NASA, recovery teams work to secure the Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II crewmembers after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)
In this photo provided by NASA, a helicopter lifts up one of the astronauts from Artemis II after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)
In this photo provided by NASA, a helicopter lifts up one of the astronauts from Artemis II after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)
People look up at the sky during a watch party for the return of NASA's Artemis II in Coronado, Calif., Friday, April 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
People look up at the sky during a watch party for the return of NASA's Artemis II in Coronado, Calif., Friday, April 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
In this photo provided by NASA, U.S. Navy divers prepare to deploy in small boats from the well deck of USS John P. Murtha to recover Artemis II crew members NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist and NASA's Orion spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
In this photo provided by NASA, U.S. Navy divers prepare to deploy in small boats from the well deck of USS John P. Murtha to recover Artemis II crew members NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist and NASA's Orion spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover is photographed in the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II lunar flyby on Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover is photographed in the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II lunar flyby on Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view as the Earth sets behind the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view as the Earth sets behind the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)
Astronauts , from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Astronauts , from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Employees of the Canadian Space Agency react during the successful launch of the Artemis II moon mission, at the Canadian Space Agency, in Longueuil, Quebec, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Employees of the Canadian Space Agency react during the successful launch of the Artemis II moon mission, at the Canadian Space Agency, in Longueuil, Quebec, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa city councillor Tim Tierney wears a costume astronaut helmet as he joins others watching the launch of Artemis II on a livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa city councillor Tim Tierney wears a costume astronaut helmet as he joins others watching the launch of Artemis II on a livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
NASA emplyees react as astronauts leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
NASA emplyees react as astronauts leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Photographers set up remote cameras near NASA's Artemis II moon rocket on Launch Pad 39-B just before sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Photographers set up remote cameras near NASA's Artemis II moon rocket on Launch Pad 39-B just before sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Artifacts sit in the Apollo Mission Control room at Johnson Space Center on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Artifacts sit in the Apollo Mission Control room at Johnson Space Center on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Members of the Cleveland Guardians warm up as NASA'S Artemis ll rocket is seen prior to launch from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on the big screen above them prior to a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Members of the Cleveland Guardians warm up as NASA'S Artemis ll rocket is seen prior to launch from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on the big screen above them prior to a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
People react on Elgin Street as the Artemis II moon rocket lifts off, on a livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
People react on Elgin Street as the Artemis II moon rocket lifts off, on a livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Mission Commander Reid Wiseman makes a heart with his hands as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Mission Commander Reid Wiseman makes a heart with his hands as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
In this photo provided by NASA, guests watch the launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission to the moon at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
In this photo provided by NASA, guests watch the launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission to the moon at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, The Artemis II crew, clockwise from left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, take time out for a group hug inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home on Wednesday, April 7, 2026. (NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, The Artemis II crew, clockwise from left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, take time out for a group hug inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home on Wednesday, April 7, 2026. (NASA via AP)
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

The Artemis II astronauts are back on Earth. The three Americans and one Canadian returned with a dramatic splashdown Friday evening, as their capsule parachuted into the Pacific to close out a nearly 10-day trip to the moon and back. The crew was the first to visit the moon since NASA’s Apollo era more than a half-century ago.

___

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

 

Sponsored Links

Trending Videos

Salem News Channel Today

On Air & Up Next

  • Best Stocks Now
    1:00AM - 2:00AM
     
    Bill Gunderson provides listeners with financial guidance that is both   >>
     
  • Bloomberg Radio
    2:00AM - 3:00AM
     
    Bloomberg Radio is the world's only global 24-hour business radio station.   >>
     
  • The Ramsey Show
    3:00AM - 6:00AM
     
    Millions listen to The Ramsey Show every day for common-sense talk on money.   >>
     
  • Bloomberg Radio
    6:00AM - 7:00AM
     
    Bloomberg Radio is the world's only global 24-hour business radio station.   >>
     
  • That Kevin Show
    7:00AM - 8:00AM
     
    Broadcast from the heart of Times Square, Kevin McCullough takes America’s   >>
     

See the Full Program Guide