Artemis 2 Crew Begins Return to Earth After Historic Moon Mission CAPE CANAVERAL, April 7, 2026
The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 mission are on their way back to Earth after completing the first crewed flight near the Moon in over 50 years, with a Pacific Ocean splashdown expected Saturday.
A Record-Breaking Journey
The crew—U.S. astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday and successfully orbited the Moon before beginning their return trip. Their mission set a new record by flying 406,778 kilometers away from Earth, the farthest any human spacecraft has ventured since the Apollo era.
During their journey, the Orion capsule passed the critical point where Earth's gravity becomes stronger than the Moon's, marking the final leg of their homeward trajectory. Astronaut Victor Glover noted the cramped conditions aboard the capsule, describing it as significantly more limited in space compared to the International Space Station (ISS).
Reflections from Space
The crew shared their experiences during an audio conversation with ISS astronauts, including Jessica Meir, who had previously worked with Koch on the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. Koch, reflecting on the view from the Orion capsule, remarked in German: *"Ich habe nicht nur die Schönheit der Erde bemerkt, sondern auch, wie viel Dunkelheit drumherum war und das hat es noch viel mehr besonders gemacht"* ("I not only noticed the beauty of the Earth but also how much darkness surrounded it, and that made it even more special").
The Artemis 2 mission represents a milestone in human space exploration, being the first crewed lunar flight since Apollo 17 in 1972. The successful return of the crew will pave the way for future Artemis missions, including potential lunar landings.
Preparing for Splashdown
The Orion capsule is scheduled to land in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, where recovery teams will retrieve the astronauts and their spacecraft. NASA officials have emphasized the importance of this phase, as the crew transitions from the microgravity environment of space back to Earth's atmosphere.
The mission's success has drawn global attention, with space agencies and enthusiasts celebrating the return of human exploration to the Moon. The Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface, serving as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars.
As the crew continues their journey home, their achievements mark a new chapter in space exploration, reigniting humanity's ambitions beyond low Earth orbit.