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Saturday, April 11, 2026

NASA Artemis II Moon Crew Arrives in San Diego

NASA Artemis II Moon Crew Arrives in San Diego

Artemis II NASA astronaut Victor Glover, pilot, is seen after being flown from USS John P. Murtha to Naval Air Station North Island on Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, Saturday, April 11, 2026, following a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 5:07 p.m. PDT (8:07 p.m. EDT) on April 10.

Artemis II NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, commander, is seen after being flown from USS John P. Murtha to Naval Air Station North Island on Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Artemis II NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, commander, greets NASA team members after being flown from USS John P. Murtha to Naval Air Station North Island on Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, Saturday, April 11, 2026, following a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 5:07 p.m. PDT (8:07 p.m. EDT) on April 10.

Artemis II NASA astronaut Christina Koch, mission specialist, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, greet NASA team members after being flown from USS John P. Murtha to Naval Air Station North Island on Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Artemis II NASA astronaut Christina Koch, mission specialist, right, joined by Tarah Castleberry, flight surgeon, left, is seen after being flown from USS John P. Murtha to Naval Air Station North Island on Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 are seen as they arrive at Naval Air Station North Island, California after flying from USS John P. Murtha with Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist onboard, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

NASA's Artemis II crew can be seen after their arrival at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, on Navy MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, Saturday, April 11, 2026. NASA’s Artemis II Mission took astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, on a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth.

During their mission, the astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby, marking humanity’s return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Learn more about NASA's Artemis II Mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/

Image Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber
Date: April 11, 2026

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Welcome Home Artemis II Moon Crew! | NASA

Welcome Home Artemis II Moon Crew! | NASA

NASA’s Artemis II Mission took NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, on a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. They had a successful splashdown of their Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (5:07 p.m. PDT) on Friday, April 10, 2026.

During their mission, the astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby, marking humanity’s return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Learn more about the Artemis II Mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/

Video Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Duration: 1 minute, 39 seconds
Date: April 10, 2026

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Orion Spacecraft Recovery | NASA Artemis II Moon Mission

Orion Spacecraft Recovery | NASA Artemis II Moon Mission

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; left, Christina Koch, mission specialist; Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist; and NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, right, pose for a group photo after viewing the Orion spacecraft in the well deck of USS John P. Murtha, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is seen as the agency’s Landing and Recovery team, along with U.S. Navy personnel work to recover the spacecraft into the well deck of USS John P. Murtha in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is seen as the agency’s Landing and Recovery team, along with U.S. Navy personnel work to securethe spacecraft into the well deck of USS John P. Murtha in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

In these images, NASA’s Orion spacecraft is seen as the agency’s Landing and Recovery team, along with U.S. Navy personnel work to recover the spacecraft into the well deck of USS John P. Murtha in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

NASA’s Artemis II Mission took NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, on a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. They can be seen aboard the USS John P. Murtha after the successful splashdown of their Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (5:07 p.m. PDT).

During their mission, the astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby, marking humanity’s return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Get more updates on the Artemis II blog:
https://nasa.gov/blogs/artemis/

Image Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls/Joel Kowsky
Date: April 11, 2026

NASA Artemis II Astronauts Arrive at USS John P. Murtha after Moon Mission

NASA Artemis II Astronauts Arrive at USS John P. Murtha after Moon Mission

NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, left, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, right, are seen sitting on a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha

NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, left, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, right, are seen standing in front of a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, left, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, are seen sitting on a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman left, Artemis II commander, left, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, talk with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman at their Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P. Murtha

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, is seen sitting in a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha

NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot is seen sitting in a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha

NASA’s Artemis II Mission took NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist, on a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. They can be seen on the flight deck of the USS John P. Murtha after the successful splashdown of their Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (5:07 p.m. PDT).

During their mission, the astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby, marking humanity’s return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Get more updates on the Artemis II blog:
https://nasa.gov/blogs/artemis/

Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Date: April 10, 2026

Friday, April 10, 2026

NASA Artemis II Astronaut Recovery Post-splashdown in Pacific Ocean

NASA Artemis II Astronaut Recovery Post-splashdown in Pacific Ocean

Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 can be seen lifting Artemis II astronauts one-by-one to bring the crewmembers aboard USS John P. Murtha on Friday, April 10, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

NASA’s Artemis II mission took NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist on a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. Following a splashdown at 5:07 p.m. PDT (8:07 p.m. EDT), NASA, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force teams are working to bring the crewmembers and Orion spacecraft aboard the recovery ship USS John P. Murtha.

During their mission, the astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby, marking humanity’s return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Get more updates on the Artemis II blog:
https://nasa.gov/blogs/artemis/

Image Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Date: April 10, 2026

Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Earth Reentry Trail | International Space Station

Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Earth Reentry Trail | International Space Station

Expedition 74 mission specialist and NASA astronaut Chris Williams: "Our crew on the International Space Station caught a glimpse of the NASA Artemis II crew as they re-entered the atmosphere from their journey to the Moon! We first saw a bright light and a trail as the service module burned up. We didn’t see the Orion capsule itself as it re-entered, but we saw the wispy trail it left behind in the upper atmosphere. Overjoyed that our friends are safely back on Earth after their awe-inspiring mission!"

During their mission, the NASA Artemis II astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby, marking humanity’s return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Artemis II crewmembers: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Andrey Fedyaev, Sergei Mikaev

European Space Agency Flight Engineer: Sophie Adenot

NASA Flight Engineers: Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center, C. Williams

Date: April 10, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #Planets #Earth #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #EarthReentry #Astronauts #JessicaMeir #ChrisWilliams #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #JSC #UnitedStates #ESA #Europe #STEM #Education

NASA Artemis II Crew Recovery Post-splashdown in Pacific Ocean

NASA Artemis II Crew Recovery Post-splashdown in Pacific Ocean

A United States Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 flies overhead as small boats approach NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crewmembers NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist aboard is seen after landing as recovery teams as NASA’s Landing and Recovery team, along with U.S. Navy personnel in small boats begin to approach the spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026.

NASA’s Artemis II Mission took Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. Following a splashdown at 5:07 p.m. PDT (8:07 p.m. EDT), NASA recovery teams are working to bring the crewmembers and Orion spacecraft aboard USS John P. Murtha.

During their mission, the astronauts completed a historic lunar flyby, marking humanity’s return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Get more updates on the Artemis II blog:
https://nasa.gov/blogs/artemis/

Image Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Date: April 10, 2026

NASA Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Splashdown in Pacific Ocean

NASA Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Splashdown in Pacific Ocean

NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crewmembers NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist aboard is seen as it lands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. NASA’s Artemis II mission took Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a ten-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. Following a splashdown at 7:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, NASA, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force teams are working to bring the crewmembers and Orion spacecraft aboard USS John P. Murtha.

Welcome home Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy! 🫶 The Artemis II astronauts splashed down safely at 8:07pm Eastern Time (ET) (0007 UTC April 11), on April 10, 2026, bringing their historic ten-day mission around the Moon to an end. The Artemis II Orion spacecraft's main parachute deployed successfully. The spacecraft has a system of 11 chutes that slows it down from around 300 mph to 20 mph for splashdown.

NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crewmembers NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist aboard is seen as it lands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. Following a splashdown at 7:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, NASA, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force teams are working to bring the crewmembers and Orion spacecraft aboard USS John P. Murtha.

Get more updates on the Artemis II blog:
https://nasa.gov/blogs/artemis/

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Date: April 10, 2026

NASA Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Splashdown in Pacific Ocean

NASA Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Splashdown in Pacific Ocean

Welcome home Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy! 🫶 The Artemis II astronauts splashed down safely at 8:07pm Eastern Time (ET) (0007 UTC April 11), on April 10, 2026, bringing their historic 10-day mission around the Moon to an end. The Artemis II Orion spacecraft's main parachute deployed successfully. The spacecraft has a system of 11 chutes that slows it down from around 300 mph to 20 mph for splashdown.

Get more updates on the Artemis II blog: https://nasa.gov/blogs/artemis/

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center

Duration: 32 seconds
Release Date: April 10, 2026

NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Landing Coverage & Splashdown Zone

NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Landing Coverage & Splashdown Zone

After a journey of more than 690,000 miles, the crew is nearly home. Watch as the Artemis II crew returns to Earth, splashing down at around 8:07pm Eastern Time (ET) (0007 UTC April 11) on Friday, April 10, 2026. Watch live return coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Netflix, HBO Max, Discovery+, Peacock and Roku starting at 6:30 p.m EDT. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media: https://www.nasa.gov/ways-to-watch/

The Artemis II crew will splash down off the coast of San Diego, California, later today and, although it will not be visible from land, you can still wave in their general direction to welcome them back to Earth! 👋

Artemis II Splashdown Timeline

A carefully timed sequence will guide Orion through the final stages of descent:

7:33 p.m.: Orion’s crew module will separate from the service module, exposing its heat shield for the spacecraft’s return through Earth’s atmosphere, where it will encounter temperatures of about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

7:37 p.m.: Following separation, Orion will perform an 18 second crew module raise burn beginning to set the proper entry angle and align the heat shield for atmospheric interface.

7:53 p.m.: When Orion reaches 400,000 feet above Earth’s surface while traveling nearly 35 times the speed of sound. The crew is expected to experience up to 3.9 Gs in the planned entry profile. This moment marks the spacecraft’s first contact with the upper atmosphere and the start of a planned six-minute communications blackout as plasma builds around the capsule.

8:03 p.m.: Around 22,000 feet in altitude, the drogue parachutes will deploy, slowing and stabilizing the capsule as Orion nears splashdown.

8:04 p.m.: At around 6,000 feet, the drogues will release, and the three main parachutes will deploy, reducing Orion’s speed to less than 136 mph.

8:07 p.m.: Slowing to 20 mph, Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, completing the Artemis II crew’s return to Earth and a 694,481-mile journey.

From there, recovery teams from NASA will extract the crew from Orion and fly them via helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha.

Within two hours after splashdown, the crew will be extracted from Orion and flown to the USS Murtha. Recovery teams will retrieve the crew, assist them onto an inflatable raft, and then use helicopters to deliver them to the ship. Once aboard, the astronauts will undergo post‑mission medical evaluations before returning to shore where awaiting aircraft will take them to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Check the Artemis blog for updates:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center
Release Date: April 10, 2026

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Mars Images: April 7-9, 2026 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Mars Images: April 7-9, 2026 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Mars 2020 - sol 1823

MSL - sol 4860

MSL - sol 4856

MSL - sol 4860

MSL - sol 4859

MSL - sol 4860

MSL - sol 4861

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Celebrating 13+ Years on Mars (2012-2025)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life.

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Celebrating 5+ Years on Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill

Release Dates: April 7-9, 2026

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Saturday, April 11, 2026

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