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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 1, 2026, 7:49 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 01, 2026 7:49 PM

1 of 2 hatches closed on Orion spacecraft

The closeout crew has now closed the side hatch, one of two hatches on the Orion crew module. The remaining hatch that the team is working to close is the Launch Abort System hatch.

This comes after the space agency confirmed that the spacesuits of all four astronauts passed their leak checks while in the Orion module, which once again tested the suits' pressure, ensuring they are airtight.

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado


Apr 01, 2026 6:51 PM

Artemis II astronauts enter Orion crew module

With the help of their closeout crew, the Artemis II astronauts have entered the Orion crew module, which they named "Integrity."

PHOTO: CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen boards the Orion spacecraft at the top of the Artemis II rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 1, 2026.
NASA
CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen boards the Orion spacecraft at the top of the Artemis II rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 1, 2026.
NASA

This mission will be the first time humans travel into space on Orion.

Artemis II will be a crucial step in testing the systems on the spacecraft for future deep space missions back to the moon.

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado


Apr 01, 2026 6:30 PM

Artemis II astronauts arrive at launchpad

The Artemis II crew has arrived at the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

NASA has said the four astronauts remain on track to launch at 6:24 p.m. ET.



Apr 01, 2026 6:10 PM

Artemis II astronauts head to the launchpad

The four-person Artemis II crew is heading to Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"It's a great day for us. It's a great day for the team," mission commander Reid Wiseman told a crowd of family members, fans and media after exiting the Operations and Checkout Facility.

PHOTO: CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen with NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch walk out before traveling to the launch pad to board the Artemis II crewed lunar mission at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, April 1, 2026.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen with NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch walk out before traveling to the launch pad to board the Artemis II crewed lunar mission at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 1, 2026.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

The astronauts piled into an Astrovan to transport them across campus to the launch tower.

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado and Mary Kekatos


Apr 06, 2026 3:36 PM

Artemis II crew is awake and ready for their lunar flyby

The Artemis II mission crew is awake and preparing for today's historic lunar flyby.

NASA reported the crew wake-up at around 10:35 a.m. ET.

PHOTO: CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen shaves after waking up on the Orion spacecraft, April 6, 2026.
NASA
CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen shaves after waking up on the Orion spacecraft, April 6, 2026.
NASA

“Morning routine: Wake up, shave, make the bed, witness something that's never before been seen by human eyes," NASA said. "The Artemis II crew is preparing for today's lunar flyby, when they will see the Moon's far side.”

PHOTO: The interior of the Orion spacecraft, April 6, 2026.
NASA
The interior of the Orion spacecraft, April 6, 2026.
NASA

The lunar flyby is scheduled to commence at 2:45 p.m. ET today, according to NASA.

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado


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