Artemis II crew returns after historic Moon mission
The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission has safely returned to Earth, completing a historic journey around the Moon that took them farther into space than any humans before. The mission concluded with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after a precise and carefully managed re-entry. The Orion spacecraft entered Earth’s atmosphere from an altitude of about 400,000 feet, undergoing a planned six-minute communications blackout before descending toward the ocean. Within 13 minutes, the capsule completed its return, deploying parachutes to slow its descent before landing safely at sea. Mission commander Reid Wiseman confirmed the crew’s status shortly after splashdown, reporting that all four astronauts were safe and in good condition. Recovery teams quickly transported them to the US Navy vessel USS John P. Murtha for initial medical checks, before their return to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston […]
