Cheers welcome Artemis II astronauts home after record-breaking trip

PBS NewsHour
by Marcia Dunn, Associated Press
April 11, 2026
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2 min read

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Artemis II astronauts returned home to cheers at Ellington Field after their record-breaking mission.

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The Artemis II astronauts were welcomed home at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center after completing their record-breaking trip. The crew of four flew in from San Diego, where they had splashed down offshore the previous evening. This event marks the successful conclusion of a significant mission for NASA's Artemis program. The return of the astronauts to Mission Control signals a critical step in the ongoing efforts to return humans to the Moon.

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Artemis II Mission Concludes with Successful Splashdown

NASA's Artemis II mission successfully concluded with the Orion capsule and its four-person crew splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. This historic lunar flyby marks a significant step in humanity's return to the Moon, providing valuable data for future deep space exploration.

Artemis II Lunar Mission Concludes with Successful Splashdown

NASA's Artemis II mission successfully concluded with its four astronauts returning to Earth via a Pacific Ocean splashdown. The mission, which orbited the Moon, marked a significant step in humanity's return to lunar exploration, providing valuable data and imagery.

Artemis II Mission Concludes with Successful Pacific Splashdown

The historic Artemis II mission successfully concluded with its Orion spacecraft and four astronauts splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. This marks a significant milestone for NASA's renewed efforts to return humans to the Moon, providing valuable data and momentum for future lunar endeavors.

Artemis II Mission Concludes Successfully

NASA's Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts, successfully concluded its historic journey around the Moon and returned to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. This mission marks a significant step in humanity's return to lunar exploration and provides crucial data for future deep-space endeavors.

Artemis II Mission Concludes with Successful Lunar Return

The Artemis II mission successfully completed its historic journey around the Moon, with four astronauts splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. This mission marked the first crewed test flight around the Moon in decades, paving the way for future lunar exploration.

Artemis II Astronauts Return to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission successfully returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after a historic journey around the Moon. This mission marks a significant step in humanity's return to lunar exploration and provides crucial data for future space endeavors.

Artemis II Astronauts Return to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

The Artemis II mission successfully concluded with its four astronauts splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean. This historic journey marked humanity's first crewed lunar flyby in decades, providing NASA with crucial momentum for future lunar exploration and the broader 'moon race'.

Artemis II Moon Mission Concludes with Successful Splashdown

The Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts on a historic lunar flyby, successfully concluded with a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. This milestone marks a critical step in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and beyond.

Artemis II Mission: Historic Lunar Flyby and Return

The Artemis II mission successfully completed a historic lunar flyby, marking the first crewed journey around the Moon in over 50 years. The four astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, providing NASA with crucial momentum for future lunar exploration.

Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew successfully returned to Earth, splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean after completing a historic lunar flyby. This mission, the first crewed journey around the Moon in over 50 years, marks a critical step in NASA's renewed efforts to return humans to the lunar surface.

Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth After Historic Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew has successfully returned to Earth, splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean after completing a historic lunar flyby. This mission, the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years, marks a significant milestone for NASA's renewed efforts to return humans to the Moon and beyond.

Artemis II Mission: Historic Lunar Flyby and Return

The Artemis II mission successfully completed its historic lunar flyby, marking the first crewed journey around the Moon in over 50 years. The four astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, concluding a critical step in NASA's plans for future lunar exploration and a potential human return to the Moon.

Artemis II Mission: Return from Lunar Flyby

The Artemis II crew has successfully returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after completing a historic lunar flyby. This mission marks a significant step in renewed space exploration efforts, with NASA already looking ahead to future endeavors despite budget concerns.

Artemis II Moon Mission Returns to Earth

The Artemis II crew successfully completed its historic lunar flyby, returning safely to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. This mission marked the first human lunar travel in over 50 years, reigniting the space race and setting the stage for future lunar exploration.

Artemis II Crew Returns After Successful Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew successfully completed their nine-day voyage around the Moon, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration. The four astronauts returned to Earth with a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, receiving a jubilant welcome in Houston.

Artemis II Astronauts Return Home After Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew successfully returned to Earth after a nine-day voyage around the Moon, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Their record-breaking mission, which took them further than any human has traveled in over 50 years, marks a significant milestone in renewed space exploration efforts, although concerns about potential NASA budget cuts loom.

Artemis II Astronauts Return from Moon Mission

The Artemis II astronauts have successfully returned to Earth after a record-breaking nine-day voyage around the Moon. Their safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean marks a significant milestone for NASA's lunar exploration program, though the future of the program faces potential budget cuts.

Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth

The Artemis II crew has successfully returned to Earth after a record-breaking nine-day voyage around the Moon, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. The four astronauts were welcomed home in Houston to widespread cheers, marking a significant milestone in NASA's lunar exploration program and renewing focus on the space race with China.

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Artemis II Crew Returns After Successful Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew has successfully completed its record-breaking nine-day voyage around the Moon, culminating in a splashdown in San Diego. The astronauts were welcomed home in Houston to cheers, marking a significant milestone in space exploration and reigniting discussions about the space race with China.

Artemis II Crew Returns to Earth

The Artemis II crew successfully completed their mission, returning to Earth with a splashdown in San Diego, witnessed by many. The astronauts, who completed a record-breaking trip around the Moon, were welcomed home in Houston, marking a significant milestone in the renewed space race.

Artemis II Crew Returns After Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew successfully completed their record-breaking voyage around the Moon, splashing down in San Diego. The astronauts were welcomed home in Houston, marking a significant milestone in space exploration and highlighting the renewed space race.

Artemis II Crew Returns Home After Successful Moon Mission

The Artemis II crew successfully completed their nine-day voyage around the Moon, splashing down in San Diego to cheers and nationwide attention. The mission marks a significant milestone in human space exploration and has reignited discussions about the ongoing space race with China.

Artemis II Mission Returns from Lunar Flyby

The Artemis II crew has successfully completed its historic lunar flyby, traveling farther from Earth than any human before. Astronauts are now returning to Earth, sharing new images from the far side of the Moon and making a long-distance call to the International Space Station.

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