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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, 9:27 AM

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 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 03, 2026 12:28 AM

Crew reports 'phenomenal' views of Earth

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen told Mission Control that the crew is "glued to the window" of the spacecraft, enjoying the views of Earth.

“None of us can get to lunch because we’re glued to the window. We’re taking pictures,” he said, calling the sight of their home planet from space "phenomenal."

PHOTO: The Orion spacecraft begins its journey away from Earth and towards the Moon following the completed Translunar injection burn, April 2, 2026.
NASA
The Orion spacecraft begins its journey away from Earth and towards the Moon following the completed Translunar injection burn, April 2, 2026.
NASA


Apr 03, 2026 12:19 AM

'Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of,' astronaut says

Speaking to Mission Control after the successful translunar injection burn, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared a message of gratitude, saying, "We firmly felt the power of your perseverance during every second of that burn."

PHOTO: The Orion spacecraft begins its journey away from Earth and towards the Moon following the completed Translunar injection burn, April 2, 2026.
NASA
The Orion spacecraft begins its journey away from Earth and towards the Moon following the completed Translunar injection burn, April 2, 2026.
NASA

"With that successful TLI, crew’s feeling pretty good up here on our way to the moon, and we just wanted to communicate to everyone around the planet who’s worked to make Artemis possible that we firmly felt the power of your perseverance during every second of that burn."

"Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of, and it’s your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the moon," he added.


Apr 04, 2026 3:07 PM

Orion passes midpoint as Artemis II enters Flight Day 4

Overnight, the Orion spacecraft moved closer to the moon than to Earth, with just over 119,000 miles still to go.

PHOTO: This handout picture by an Artemis II crew member provided by NASA shows Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen peering out the window of the Orion spacecraft on April 3, 2026.
NASA via AFP via Getty Images
This handout picture by an Artemis II crew member provided by NASA shows Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen peering out the window of the Orion spacecraft on April 3, 2026.
NASA via AFP via Getty Images

According to NASA, after the first outbound trajectory correction burn was canceled, the crew prepared the cabin for the upcoming lunar observation period and tested Orion’s emergency communications system.

PHOTO: This handout picture provided by NASA shows the Moon taken by an Artemis II crewmember through the window of the Orion spacecraft on April 3, 2026.
NASA via AFP via Getty Images
This handout picture provided by NASA shows the Moon taken by an Artemis II crewmember through the window of the Orion spacecraft on April 3, 2026.
NASA via AFP via Getty Images

The crew remains asleep now, with a scheduled wake-up around 11:35 a.m. CDT/ 12:35 p.m. EDT to begin Flight Day 4.

-ABC News’ Briana Alvarado


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