• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
ABC News

'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 10, 2026, 11:41 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 10, 2026 11:41 PM

Major phase of final descent

Orion's crew module has separated from the European Service Module, exposing the heat shield that will protect the spacecraft during its high-speed travel through the Earth's atmosphere.

That shield will withstand temperatures of up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit during the high-speed entry.

PHOTO: The Orion crew module separates from the service module as the Artemis II crew prepares to reenter Earth's atmosphere, April 10, 2026.
NASA
The Orion crew module separates from the service module as the Artemis II crew prepares to reenter Earth's atmosphere, April 10, 2026.
NASA

Apr 10, 2026 11:24 PM

Preparations for splashdown

U.S. Navy divers could be seen preparing to deploy from the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha, which will retrieve the crewmembers and NASA's Orion spacecraft once they splash down off the coast of San Diego.

PHOTO: US Navy divers preparing to deploy from the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha to recover Artemis II crewmembers and NASA's Orion spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., April 10, 2026.
Bill Ingalls/NASA
US Navy divers preparing to deploy from the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha to recover Artemis II crewmembers and NASA's Orion spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., April 10, 2026.
Bill Ingalls/NASA

Apr 10, 2026 10:39 PM

Astronauts suited up

PHOTO: Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover work at the controls of the Orion spacecraft after changing into their spacesuits as it travels to Earth ahead of splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, April 10, 2026.
NASA
Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover work at the controls of the Orion spacecraft after changing into their spacesuits as it travels to Earth ahead of splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, April 10, 2026.
NASA


Members of the crew can be seen in their orange spacesuits now while at the controls of the Orion spacecraft ahead of their reentry.



Apr 10, 2026 10:19 PM

Timeline for Orion descent

Here's a look at the "carefully timed sequence" of the final stages of Orion's descent, according to NASA. All times Eastern.

7:33 p.m.: Orion's crew module will separate from the European Service Module, exposing the heat shield that will protect the spacecraft as it travels through the Earth's atmosphere.

7:37 p.m.: Orion will perform an 18-second raise burn that fine-tunes the reentry angle of the spacecraft to minimize the time the heat shield will experience high temperatures.

7:53 p.m.: Orion will make first contact with the upper atmosphere, beginning a planned 6-minute communications blackout. The crew is expected to experience up to 3.9 Gs as the spacecraft travels nearly 35 times the speed of sound.

7:59 p.m.: NASA will regain communications with the crew.

8:03 p.m.: At around 22,000 feet in altitude, drogue parachutes will deploy to help slow the capsule ahead of splashdown.

8:04 p.m.: Three main parachutes will deploy at around 6,000 feet, reducing Orion's speed to less than 136 mph.

8:07 p.m.: Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego, having slowed to 20 mph.

PHOTO: Artemis II splashdown corridor off the coast of California.
NASA
Artemis II splashdown corridor off the coast of California.
NASA

Apr 03, 2026 12:04 AM

Translunar injection burn successfully completed

The translunar injection burn has been completed successfully. The Artemis II crew is on its way to the moon.

The crew received two caution indicators on their screen but determined it required no action and proceeded with the burn.

PHOTO: A visualization of the Orion spacecraft in space.
NASA
A visualization of the Orion spacecraft in space.
NASA

The burn occurred on time at the one day, one hour and 14-minute mark for the mission, according to Mission Control.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was in Mission Control during the TLI burn.


GMA Newsletters

Sign up for our newsletters to get GMA delivered to your inbox every morning!

Up Next in news

PHOTO: Gas station clerk Abdulrahman Abohatem speaks to ABC affiliate WXYZ.

Gas station clerk speaks out after foiling alleged kidnapping

April 15, 2026
PHOTO: Pauls Valley High School principal Kirk Moore took down a shooter in the halls after shots were fired.

Oklahoma high school principal takes down would-be shooter, hailed as hero

April 15, 2026
VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania

American influencer found dead in Tanzania

April 15, 2026

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News