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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 3, 2026, 5:45 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 03, 2026 5:45 PM

Out of this world photos from Orion capsule revealed

NASA released the first batch of high quality photos of Earth taken from the Orion capsule.

PHOTO: NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman took this picture of Earth from the Orion spacecraft's window on April 2, 2026, after completing the translunar injection burn.
Reid Wiseman/NASA
NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman took this picture of Earth from the Orion spacecraft's window on April 2, 2026, after completing the translunar injection burn.
Reid Wiseman/NASA

The images show the crew’s view as they look back at the pale blue dot we call home, while continuing their journey toward the moon.

PHOTO: A view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from one of the Orion spacecraft's four main windows after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026.
Reid Wiseman/NASA
A view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from one of the Orion spacecraft's four main windows after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026.
Reid Wiseman/NASA

According to NASA, the images were taken on Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman's "personal computing device, PC or tablet."

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado


Apr 03, 2026 12:19 PM

View of Earth in day and night from Artemis II Orion spacecraft

During Friday morning's video feed from the Orion spacecraft, NASA captured an image of Earth partly in daytime and partly at night.

The Earth is the object on the right that appears crescent-shaped. Orion is about 77,000 miles from Earth here.

PHOTO: Earth is seen from the Orion spacecraft, April 3, 2026.
NASA
Earth is seen from the Orion spacecraft, April 3, 2026.
NASA


-ABC News' Matthew Glasser


Apr 03, 2026 9:27 AM

Crew will experience an eclipse on Day 6 of mission

The Artemis II crew will get the chance to see a solar eclipse on the sixth day of the 10-day mission.

The sun's corona will be visible, NASA officials said during a press conference Thursday night.

PHOTO: CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover speak with ABC News from the Orion spacecraft as it heads to the moon, April 2, 2026.
NASA
CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover speak with ABC News from the Orion spacecraft as it heads to the moon, April 2, 2026.
NASA


Apr 03, 2026 12:45 AM

Translunar injection burn was 'flawless,' NASA says

During a press conference on Thursday night, Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator at NASA, said that the critical translunar injection burn was "flawless."

“From this point forward, the laws of orbital mechanics are going to carry our crew to the moon, around the far side and back to Earth,” Glaze said.


Apr 11, 2026 2:08 AM

Crew members hoisted into helicopters

One by one, the members of the Artemis crew are being hoisted into waiting helicopters after the successful splashdown following the 10-day mission around the moon.

The helicopters are carrying the astronauts to the USS John P. Murtha off the coast of San Diego.

PHOTO: A NASA Artemis II crew member is pulled up to a helicopter from a raft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, April 10, 2026.
NASA
A NASA Artemis II crew member is pulled up to a helicopter from a raft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, April 10, 2026.
NASA
PHOTO: A NASA Artemis II crew member is pulled up to a helicopter from a raft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, April 10, 2026.
NASA
A NASA Artemis II crew member is pulled up to a helicopter from a raft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, April 10, 2026.
NASA

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