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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 7, 2026, 1:35 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 07, 2026 1:35 PM

NASA shares 1st images of Artemis II lunar flyby, including Earthset

NASA has shared the first photos from the Artemis II crew's historic lunar flyby, including a stunning image of Earth.

The photo shows the crew's view of an Earthset as the planet disappears beyond the lunar horizon and the astronauts make their way to the far side of the moon.

PHOTO: First photo from the far side of the moon captured from Orion as Earth dips beyond the lunar horizon, April 6, 2026.
NASA
First photo from the far side of the moon captured from Orion as Earth dips beyond the lunar horizon, April 6, 2026.
NASA

The photo bears a striking resemblance to "Earthrise," a photo taken in 1968 from lunar orbit by astronaut William Anders during the Apollo 8 mission, which was the first crewed mission to reach the moon.

PHOTO: The Earth rises above the moon in a picture known as Earthrise taken by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on December 24, 1968.
William Anders/NASA
The Earth rises above the moon in a picture known as Earthrise taken by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on December 24, 1968.
William Anders/NASA

Apr 07, 2026 4:02 AM

Trump speaks with Artemis II astronauts: 'You've made history'

President Donald Trump called the Artemis II astronauts after the historic lunar flyby on Monday and invited them to the Oval Office upon their return to Earth.

“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” Trump said. “We have a lot of things to be proud of lately, but this is, there’s nothing like what you’re doing circling around the moon for the first time in more than half a century and breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance from planet Earth.”

After inviting the astronauts to visit the White House, Trump said, "I’ll ask for your autograph ... I don’t really ask for autographs much, but you deserve that."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump holds a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, April 6, 2026.
Evan Vucci/Reuters
President Donald Trump holds a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, April 6, 2026.
Evan Vucci/Reuters

"I look forward to having you in the Oval Office at the White House, and we will celebrate your incredible achievements and trials," the president said.

The president also said the U.S. will “establish a permanent presence on the moon” one day in the future, as well as “push on to Mars,” though he recognized that the latter feat may not necessarily occur during his administration. 

“We'll plant our flag once again, and this time we won't just leave footprints, we'll establish a permanent presence on the moon, and we'll push on to Mars, that'll be very exciting. I'm waiting for that so much. I'd love to be here, but maybe we won't quite make it in terms of timing,” Trump said.


Apr 07, 2026 2:02 AM

Solar eclipse, lunar flyby conclude

The total solar eclipse has ended and the lunar flyby has concluded, NASA said. The Artemis II crew is now beginning the return trip home.

On Tuesday, the Orion spacecraft will exit the lunar sphere of influence at approximately 1:25 p.m. ET -- about 41,072 miles from the moon, according to the space agency.

PHOTO: The Orion spacecraft begins in journey back to Earth after flying past the back side of the Moon, April 6, 2026.
NASA
The Orion spacecraft begins in journey back to Earth after flying past the back side of the Moon, April 6, 2026.
NASA


Apr 07, 2026 2:15 AM

Crater on far side of moon named in honor of astronaut's late wife

The Artemis II crew named a crater on the moon, sitting on the boundary of the near side and far side, after mission commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.

Carroll Wiseman passed away in 2020 after a five-year battle with cancer, according to her obituary.

"We lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll. The spouse of Reid, the mother of Katie and Ellie," Canadian Space Agency astronaut and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen said earlier on Monday, tearing up. "It's a bright spot on the moon. And we would like to call it Carroll."

PHOTO: The Artemis II crew named a crater on the moon, sitting on the boundary of the near side and far side, after mission commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.
Wiseman family
The Artemis II crew named a crater on the moon, sitting on the boundary of the near side and far side, after mission commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.
Wiseman family

The crew shared a long group hug afterwards.

For another crater on the far side of the moon, Hansen said the crew would like to name it "Integrity," in honor of the name the astronauts have given the spacecraft that carried them farther into space than any other human in history.

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado


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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