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Artemis II Mission Nears Completion with Pacific Splashdown

NASA's Artemis II mission is concluding its historic lunar journey with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The crew, after orbiting the moon, is preparing for re-entry, marking a significant milestone in the agency's lunar comeback.

Latest Developments

The Hill82/100Apr 10, 2026

Artemis II splashdown: How to watch Orion capsule return home

The Orion capsule from the Artemis II mission is returning to Earth, with its splashdown recovery operations set to be broadcast live on NewsNation. This event marks the conclusion of the Artemis II mission, which is a critical step in NASA's program to return humans to the Moon. Viewers can anticipate watching the capsule's re-entry and subsequent recovery as it lands in the ocean. The successful return of Orion is essential for validating systems and procedures for future crewed lunar missions.

CBS News85/100Apr 10, 2026

A look at the risks as Artemis II crew prepares to splash down in the Pacific

The Artemis II crew is preparing for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, concluding their journey around the far side of the moon. This event marks the return of the four astronauts after a history-making mission. Mark Strassmann is explaining the inherent risks associated with the crew's re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. The successful splashdown is a critical final step for the mission, bringing the astronauts home after their lunar orbit.

CBS News85/100Apr 10, 2026

Eye Opener: Artemis set to splash down after historic lunar mission

NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off California on Friday evening, marking the conclusion of its historic lunar mission. This event signifies a critical step in the Artemis program's goal of returning humans to the Moon. In other news, the United States and Iran are preparing for high-level peace talks this weekend. These discussions aim to address ongoing diplomatic issues between the two nations.

Ars Technica85/100Apr 10, 2026

Rocket Report: Chinese version of Falcon 9 fails; Artemis depends on rapid heavy lift

The Rocket Report, Edition 8.36, notes the Artemis II mission is going smoothly, with atmospheric reentry ahead for the crew and Orion spacecraft. Seagate Space Corporation announced a "memorandum of understanding" with Firefly Aerospace to explore an offshore launch platform for the Alpha rocket, with Sean Fortener, president and COO at Seagate Space, stating it's a major step for offshore launch. Germany-based Isar Aerospace stood down from a Thursday, April 9 launch attempt for its Spectrum rocket due to a suspected leak. The article also mentions the Atlas V rocket launched its heaviest mission to date on April 4.

AP US News96/100Apr 10, 2026

Artemis II's grand moon finale is almost here with a Pacific splashdown to cap NASA's lunar comeback - AP News

NASA's Artemis II mission is nearing its conclusion with a planned Pacific splashdown. This event marks the culmination of the agency's lunar comeback efforts. The splashdown will signify the end of the Artemis II mission's journey to the moon. This mission is a critical step in NASA's broader program to return humans to the lunar surface.

Key Facts

The Artemis II mission is preparing for its splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, concluding its journey around the moon.

Source: The Hill, CBS News, AP News

The mission marks a significant step in NASA's lunar comeback.

Source: AP News

The crew viewed an eclipse and broke an Apollo-era distance record during their mission.

Source: NPR

Recovery operations are underway for the Orion capsule's return.

Source: The Hill

The event is being widely covered, with live broadcasts available.

Source: The Hill

Recent Highlights

April 4, 2026

Artemis II crew prepares to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, concluding their lunar mission.

April 5, 2026

Artemis II astronauts hurtle home from the Moon toward Pacific splashdown.

April 5, 2026

NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off California.

Full Coverage (9 articles)

Apr 10, 2026

Artemis II splashdown: How to watch Orion capsule return home

The Orion capsule from the Artemis II mission is returning to Earth, with its splashdown recovery operations set to be broadcast live on NewsNation. This event marks the conclusion of the Artemis II mission, which is a critical step in NASA's program to return humans to the Moon. Viewers can anticipate watching the capsule's re-entry and subsequent recovery as it lands in the ocean. The successful return of Orion is essential for validating systems and procedures for future crewed lunar missions.

Apr 10, 2026

A look at the risks as Artemis II crew prepares to splash down in the Pacific

The Artemis II crew is preparing for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, concluding their journey around the far side of the moon. This event marks the return of the four astronauts after a history-making mission. Mark Strassmann is explaining the inherent risks associated with the crew's re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. The successful splashdown is a critical final step for the mission, bringing the astronauts home after their lunar orbit.

Apr 10, 2026

Eye Opener: Artemis set to splash down after historic lunar mission

NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off California on Friday evening, marking the conclusion of its historic lunar mission. This event signifies a critical step in the Artemis program's goal of returning humans to the Moon. In other news, the United States and Iran are preparing for high-level peace talks this weekend. These discussions aim to address ongoing diplomatic issues between the two nations.

OverlookedApr 10, 2026

Rocket Report: Chinese version of Falcon 9 fails; Artemis depends on rapid heavy lift

The Rocket Report, Edition 8.36, notes the Artemis II mission is going smoothly, with atmospheric reentry ahead for the crew and Orion spacecraft. Seagate Space Corporation announced a "memorandum of understanding" with Firefly Aerospace to explore an offshore launch platform for the Alpha rocket, with Sean Fortener, president and COO at Seagate Space, stating it's a major step for offshore launch. Germany-based Isar Aerospace stood down from a Thursday, April 9 launch attempt for its Spectrum rocket due to a suspected leak. The article also mentions the Atlas V rocket launched its heaviest mission to date on April 4.

Apr 10, 2026

Artemis II's grand moon finale is almost here with a Pacific splashdown to cap NASA's lunar comeback - AP News

NASA's Artemis II mission is nearing its conclusion with a planned Pacific splashdown. This event marks the culmination of the agency's lunar comeback efforts. The splashdown will signify the end of the Artemis II mission's journey to the moon. This mission is a critical step in NASA's broader program to return humans to the lunar surface.

Apr 10, 2026

Artemis II astronauts are set to return to Earth today. Here's what to expect

NASA's Artemis II mission is preparing to return to Earth today after its lunar journey. During its mission, the crew viewed an eclipse and broke an Apollo distance record. The astronauts also tested a space toilet while swooping around the moon. They must now safely navigate the return to Earth.

Apr 10, 2026

From a smuggled harmonica to Artemis' playlist - the history of music in space

The history of music in space ranges from a smuggled harmonica to modern playlists. Astronauts in space have recently been listening to Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club." This highlights how music has evolved from covert instruments to officially curated selections for space missions. The evolution of music in space reflects advancements in technology and crew comfort, allowing for diverse entertainment options. This practice provides a connection to Earth and helps maintain morale during long spaceflights.

Apr 10, 2026

Artemis II astronauts hurtle home from Moon toward Pacific splashdown

The Artemis II astronauts are returning to Earth after completing a historic lunar mission. Their 10-day journey marked the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years. The crew is now preparing for the critical re-entry phase, which will culminate in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Friday. This event represents the successful conclusion of a significant milestone in human space exploration.

OverlookedApr 10, 2026

How a remote camera with a sound trigger captured the Artemis II launch - and startled birds - AP News

AP News detailed how a remote camera, equipped with a sound trigger, successfully captured the Artemis II launch. This specialized setup allowed for unique photographic documentation of the rocket's ascent. The camera's sound-activated mechanism also inadvertently startled nearby birds during the powerful launch event. This method provides an innovative way to photograph significant space events from a safe distance.