After venturing farther from our planet than any human beings in history, the four astronauts of NASA’s lunar flyby mission are heading home. The highly anticipated Artemis II return to Earth is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026. Following a successful swing around the far side of the moon on April 6, the crew is set for a historic splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.
NASA’s target time for the Orion spacecraft to hit the water is 8:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, or 5:07 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. This marks the successful conclusion of the first crewed mission in the agency’s Artemis program, representing a critical full-systems test for future deep-space exploration.
The Crew’s Journey and Final Preparations
The Artemis II crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, who serves as commander, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch. They are joined by Canadian Space Agency astronaut and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. The four space explorers were selected for this mission in April 2023 and have spent the past three years training together.
On April 7, the spacecraft officially exited the lunar sphere of influence, which is the point where the moon’s gravity has a stronger pull on the capsule than Earth’s gravity. On their final full day in space, the crew woke up to the song “Lonesome Drifter” by Charley Crockett while they were approximately 147,337 miles away from Earth.
To prepare for their landing, Koch and Hansen have been busy inside the cabin. They are stowing equipment, removing cargo netting, and adjusting the crew seats to make sure all items are safely secured. Throughout the day, the astronauts review the entry timeline, check recovery force statuses, and analyze the latest weather briefings. They also conducted a trajectory correction burn to fine-tune Orion’s path. During this maneuver, Hansen monitored the spacecraft’s guidance, navigation, and propulsion systems.
A New Reentry Strategy
As the spacecraft approaches the atmosphere, the Artemis II return to Earth will rely on a new descent method. During the uncrewed Artemis I mission, NASA utilized a “skip” reentry, which involved bouncing in and out of the atmosphere before landing. For Artemis II, the spacecraft will take a more direct path known as a lofted entry approach.
According to Orion program manager Debbie Korth, changing the reentry method to a lofted entry was part of the plan well before launch. Although mission controllers lose some flexibility regarding potential landing zones with this direct path, the maneuver is designed to bring the crew home safely.
This change also follows significant issues discovered on the uncrewed Artemis I flight. Following that mission, engineers found that the spacecraft’s heat shield had more layers and pieces that were cracked and charred than initially expected. In response, NASA adjusted how it applies the heat shield material. Furthermore, mission teams test the tiles surrounding the Orion capsule for any damage from tiny pieces of space debris. Korth noted that ground teams have not seen anything concerning regarding the tiles on this flight.
Riding Through the Atmosphere
The return process involves speeds approaching 23,864 miles per hour, or roughly 40,000 kilometers per hour. This will be the fastest reentry ever attempted by a crewed spacecraft. As the capsule plunges into the atmosphere, the heat shield will endure temperatures hotter than molten lava. Before reentry begins, the crew members will pressurize their spacesuits and lower their visors to protect themselves from the intense heat.
About twenty minutes before Orion reaches the upper atmosphere southeast of Hawaii, the service module will separate from the capsule. The spacecraft will then execute a series of roll maneuvers to distance itself from the departing hardware.
As Orion descends through an altitude of 400,000 feet, plasma will form around the capsule due to peak heating. This will cause a planned six-minute communications blackout between the crew and ground control. During a nominal landing profile, the astronauts are expected to experience up to 3.9 Gs of force.
Once the spacecraft emerges from the communications blackout, it will jettison its forward bay cover. The capsule will deploy its drogue parachutes near 22,000 feet to begin slowing down. Finally, the three main parachutes will unfurl at around 6,000 feet, gently guiding Orion to the Pacific Ocean.
Recovery Operations and Favorable Conditions
Flight controllers continue to monitor the spacecraft’s mechanics and the landing environment. Rick Henfling, the flight director for Artemis II, stated that ground crews are closely watching wave conditions, winds, and precipitation in the recovery zone. Henfling noted that the teams have seen really favorable conditions. If necessary, NASA has ways to alter the landing profile to shorten the entry path, ensuring the spacecraft can still fly safely home.
Within two hours after splashdown, recovery teams utilizing helicopters will extract the astronauts from Orion. They will be flown to the USS John P. Murtha, a U.S. Navy ship waiting in the Pacific. Once aboard, the crew will undergo post-mission medical evaluations. Afterward, they will return to shore and board an aircraft bound for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The mission was designed as a full-systems test to prepare for future lunar landings. The crew successfully flew a free-return trajectory, using the moon’s gravity to slingshot back to Earth without requiring a major engine burn. This path is considered safer and more fuel-efficient. The Artemis II return to Earth paves the way for the next era of human exploration, leading the charge for the eventual Artemis III lunar landing mission.
