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'Welcome home, Artemis': Crew celebrates historic 10-day moon mission

PHOTO: (L-R) NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover and commander Reid Wiseman attend a welcoming ceremony in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026.
3:01
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
Artemis II crew arrives back to Houston after the dramatic Pacific splashdown
By Mary Kekatos, Julia Jacobo, Leah Sarnoff, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: April 8, 2026, 1:08 PM

NASA's Artemis II mission lifted off on April 1 at 6:35 p.m. ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The four-person crew completed a 695,081-mile, 10-day journey around the moon, also known as a lunar fly-by.

A "textbook" splashdown took place at 8:07 p.m. ET on Friday, April 10.

Key Headlines

  • Crew makes 1st appearance since return from historic mission
  • 'Welcome home, Artemis': Jubilant and emotional, crew speaks out on historic moon mission
  • Trump says he will welcome Artemis II crew to White House 'soon'
  • NASA officials hail 'new era' of space exploration after successful mission
  • Crew members hoisted into helicopters
  • All 4 crew members out of the capsule
Here's how the news is developing.

Apr 08, 2026 1:08 PM

Weather for Artemis II splashdown appears to be holding up

The weather for the Artemis II splashdown on Friday appears to be holding up. Currently, the spacecraft is tentatively scheduled to splash down at 8:07 p.m. ET off the coast of San Diego.

PHOTO: Artemis II Splashdown
ABC News
Artemis II Splashdown
ABC News

Artemis II recovery criteria require winds below 28.7 miles per hour, wave heights under six feet and no rain or lightning within 30 nautical miles of the splashdown site.

Overall, much of these criteria should be met, according to forecasts. Rain should stay well north of the region and clouds shouldn't be outside of the safety criteria, and winds and wave height should be within the necessary range for a successful splashdown and recovery.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke


Apr 08, 2026 7:58 PM

Weather for Artemis II splashdown looks mild, monitoring for rain

The weather for the Artemis II splashdown on Friday evening off the coast of San Diego looks mild, but will have to be monitored.

Artemis II recovery criteria require winds below 28.7 miles per hour, wave heights under 6 feet and no rain or lightning within 30 nautical miles of the splashdown site.

So far, the wave heights and wind meet the criteria, but there is a possibility of showers off the coast.

-ABC News' Melissa Griffin


Apr 07, 2026 6:14 PM

Artemis II crew exits lunar sphere of influence

The Artemis II astronauts have exited the lunar sphere of influence, saying goodbye to the moon's gravitational pull, NASA's Mission Control said.

Flight day 7 is all about reflection for the Earth-bound crew of four as they prepare to meet with teams on the ground for a lunar flyby debrief.

During this meeting, the crew will be sharing observations of the moon and its features.

PHOTO: Midway through their lunar observation period, the Artemis II crew members, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen pause to turn the camera around for a selfie inside the Orion spacecraft, April, 2026.
NASA
Midway through their lunar observation period, the Artemis II crew members, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen pause to turn the camera around for a selfie inside the Orion spacecraft, April, 2026.
NASA


Tonight, at around 9:03 p.m. ET, the spacecraft will use its thrusters to fire the first of three trajectory correction burns, adjusting the spacecraft's path back home.

NASA says it is currently a "go" for splashdown on Friday, April 10. The crew is expected to touch down in the Pacific Ocean just after 8 p.m. ET Friday, concluding the approximately 695,081-mile journey around the moon and back to Earth.

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado



Apr 07, 2026 6:14 PM

Artemis II crew recreates 'Full House' opening

The Artemis II crew put its own spin on the "Full House" opening credits, recreating the intro and calling it "Full Capsule."

The video features the opening theme to the TV show, "Everywhere You Look," introducing the crew along with clips of life inside the Orion spacecraft.

Also featured in the clip is "Rise," the plush toy designed by a second grader, who won a contest for his toy to go to space with the crew.


Apr 01, 2026 5:53 PM

Artemis II astronauts are suiting up

The four Artemis II astronauts are suiting up, officially stepping into their Orion Crew Survival System (OCCS) spacesuits as they prepare for their long-awaited launch.

These specialized suits are worn during the most critical phases of flight: liftoff and reentry.

PHOTO: NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen pose together before the launch of the Artemis II SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, April 1, 2026 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA
NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman Victor Glover and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen pose together after being suited up before the launch of the Artemis II SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, April 1, 2026 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA

The astronauts are also undergoing leak checks to ensure that their suits are airtight. They conduct a total of three leak checks in the suit-up room and then three more checks once in the Orion crew capsule, according to NASA.

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado


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