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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 7, 2026, 6:14 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 07, 2026 6:14 PM

Artemis II crew exits lunar sphere of influence

The Artemis II astronauts have exited the lunar sphere of influence, saying goodbye to the moon's gravitational pull, NASA's Mission Control said.

Flight day 7 is all about reflection for the Earth-bound crew of four as they prepare to meet with teams on the ground for a lunar flyby debrief.

During this meeting, the crew will be sharing observations of the moon and its features.

PHOTO: Midway through their lunar observation period, the Artemis II crew members, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen pause to turn the camera around for a selfie inside the Orion spacecraft, April, 2026.
NASA
Midway through their lunar observation period, the Artemis II crew members, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen pause to turn the camera around for a selfie inside the Orion spacecraft, April, 2026.
NASA


Tonight, at around 9:03 p.m. ET, the spacecraft will use its thrusters to fire the first of three trajectory correction burns, adjusting the spacecraft's path back home.

NASA says it is currently a "go" for splashdown on Friday, April 10. The crew is expected to touch down in the Pacific Ocean just after 8 p.m. ET Friday, concluding the approximately 695,081-mile journey around the moon and back to Earth.

-ABC News' Briana Alvarado


Apr 07, 2026 6:14 PM

Artemis II crew recreates 'Full House' opening

The Artemis II crew put its own spin on the "Full House" opening credits, recreating the intro and calling it "Full Capsule."

The video features the opening theme to the TV show, "Everywhere You Look," introducing the crew along with clips of life inside the Orion spacecraft.

Also featured in the clip is "Rise," the plush toy designed by a second grader, who won a contest for his toy to go to space with the crew.


Apr 07, 2026 6:21 PM

NASA shares more photos of far side of the moon

NASA has shared additional photos of the far side of the moon taken during the Artemis II crew's historic lunar flyby on Monday.

One image shows a close-up view of Vavilov Crater, an impact crater on the rim of the older and larger Hertzsprung impact basin, none of which can be seen from Earth.

PHOTO: A close-up view taken by the Artemis II crew of Vavilov Crater on the rim of the older and larger Hertzsprung basin, April 6, 2026.
NASA
A close-up view taken by the Artemis II crew of Vavilov Crater on the rim of the older and larger Hertzsprung basin, April 6, 2026.
NASA

Another image shows the Orientale basin in the center with a black patch of ancient lava that punched through the moon's crust in an eruption billions of years ago. It is located on the western border between the near and far side of the moon and is hard to see from Earth.

PHOTO: Orientale basin is visible in the center, with a black patch of ancient lava in the center that punched through the Moon's crust in an eruption billions of years ago, in this view of the Moon, taken by the Artemis II crew, April 6, 2026.
NASA
Orientale basin is visible in the center, with a black patch of ancient lava in the center that punched through the Moon's crust in an eruption billions of years ago, in this view of the Moon, taken by the Artemis II crew, April 6, 2026.
NASA

A third image captures the lunar surface in sharp detail while a distant Earth hovers in the background.

PHOTO: The lunar surface fills the frame in sharp detail, as seen during the Artemis II lunar flyby, while a distant Earth sets in the background, April 6, 2026.
NASA
The lunar surface fills the frame in sharp detail, as seen during the Artemis II lunar flyby, while a distant Earth sets in the background, April 6, 2026.
NASA

Also captured by the Artemis II crew is the heavily cratered terrain of the eastern edge of the South Pole-Aitken basin, an impact crater on the far side of the moon.

The basin is seen with the shadowed terminator -- the boundary between lunar day and night -- at the top of the image.

PHOTO: Captured by the Artemis II crew, April 6, 2026, the heavily cratered terrain of the eastern edge of the South Pole-Aitken basin is seen with the shadowed terminator, the boundary between lunar day and night at the top of the image.
NASA
Captured by the Artemis II crew, April 6, 2026, the heavily cratered terrain of the eastern edge of the South Pole-Aitken basin is seen with the shadowed terminator, the boundary between lunar day and night at the top of the image.
NASA


Apr 07, 2026 2:24 PM

Artemis II crew dons eclipse glasses in space

NASA released a photo of the Artemis II crew donning eclipse glasses ahead of the solar eclipse.

The image shows (from far left) Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover protecting their eyes at key moments during the solar eclipse they experienced on Monday.

PHOTO: art002e009302
NASA
The Artemis II crew, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover use eclipse viewers to protect their eyes at key moments during the solar eclipse they experienced during their lunar flyby, April 6, 2026.
NASA

Apr 01, 2026 3:03 PM

Weather should be favorable for launch, forecast shows

Weather is expected to be a green light at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, for the Artemis II mission to launch.

The two-hour window from 6:24 to 8:24 p.m. will feature temperatures in the mid to low 70s, forecasters say.

PHOTO: Artemis Forecast Map
ABC News
Artemis Forecast Map
ABC News
PHOTO: Artemis Forecast Map
ABC News
Artemis Forecast Map
ABC News

Winds will be between 8 and 16 mph, with a rare gust up to 20 mph, max.

There will be a mix of clouds and clear skies with no forecast chance for rain or lightning.

-ABC News’ Kenton Gewecke


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