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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, 12:28 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 07, 2026 12:28 AM

Artemis II pilot's daughter goes viral celebrating dad's moon mission

The daughter of NASA astronaut and Artemis II moon mission pilot Victor Glover has gone viral for celebrating her dad's role in the historic lunar flyby.

In a video posted Sunday on TikTok and Instagram, Maya Glover is seen unzipping a hooded sweatshirt to reveal a T-shirt printed with an image of her father. She then steps back from the camera, dancing before playfully losing track of the moves.

PHOTO: Maya L. Glover shared a viral video celebrating her dad, NASA astronaut Victor Glover, piloting Artemis II halfway to the moon.
Courtesy of Maya L. Glover
Maya L. Glover shared a viral video celebrating her dad, NASA astronaut Victor Glover, piloting Artemis II halfway to the moon.
Courtesy of Maya L. Glover

"When your dad successfully pilots Artemis II halfway to the moon… & you forget the dance," she wrote over the clip, set to Korn's "Freak on a Leash."

Read more here.

-ABC News’ Shafiq Najib


Apr 06, 2026 11:45 PM

'We will always choose Earth,' Artemis II astronaut says

After contact was regained with the Orion spacecraft, mission specialist Christina Koch shared a message with NASA’s Mission Control on behalf of the crew.

"We will explore, we will build, we will build ships, we will visit again," Koch said. "We will construct science outposts, we will drive rovers, we will do radio astronomy, we will found companies, we will bolster industry we will inspire, but -- ultimately -- we will always choose Earth, we will always choose each other."

PHOTO: NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch, seen here on the fourth day of the mission, prepping for lunar flyby activities after completing aerobic exercise on the flywheel device, April 5, 2026.
NASA
NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch, seen here on the fourth day of the mission, prepping for lunar flyby activities after completing aerobic exercise on the flywheel device, April 5, 2026.
NASA

The crew is on its observation break, which will last about an hour, according to Mission Control.


Apr 06, 2026 11:29 PM

NASA regains communications with Artemis II crew

NASA Mission Control has regained contact with the Artemis II crew as the astronauts have swung around the far side of moon.

"Orion has technically begun its journey home," Mission Control stated.



Apr 06, 2026 11:21 PM

Orion reaches maximum distance from Earth

While passing around the far side of the moon, the Orion spacecraft reached its maximum distance from Earth at 252,760 miles.

PHOTO: A crescent shaped Earth is seen behind the crescent Moon as seen just before the Orion spacecraft flew on the back side of the Moon, April 6, 2026.
NASA
A crescent shaped Earth is seen behind the crescent Moon as seen just before the Orion spacecraft flew on the back side of the Moon, April 6, 2026.
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.


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