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By Anna Commander
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The four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. ET Friday, concluding a roughly 10-day journey that took humans farther from Earth than ever before.
Video posted to X by NASA on Friday shows the Orion capsule, carrying Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, land upright under three main parachutes after a high-speed reentry.
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Why It Matters
The splashdown marks completion of the first crewed voyage beyond low-Earth orbit in more than 50 years.
What To Know
Orion hit the upper atmosphere around 7:53 p.m. ET at about 24,000 mph, triggering a roughly six-minute communications blackout as plasma formed around the capsule during peak heating near 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NASA’s live updates, NBC News reports.
What People Are Saying
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, on X Friday night: "And splashdown! America is back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon and bringing them home safely. Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy did an outstanding job. These talented astronauts inspired the world and represented their space agencies and nations as humanity’s ambassadors to the stars.
"This was a test mission, the first crewed flight of SLS and Orion, pushing farther into the unforgiving environment of space than ever before, and it carried real risk. They accepted that risk for all we stood to learn and for the exciting missions that follow, as we return to the lunar surface, build a Moon base, and prepare for what comes next. And they were not alone. The entire NASA workforce, our commercial and international partners, and the hopes and dreams of people all over the world were with them. The astronauts know it, and you should too. This mission would not have been possible without you. Congratulations. Artemis II, mission accomplished."
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social Friday: "Congratulations to the Great and Very Talented Crew of Artemis II. The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I could not be more proud! I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. We’ll be doing it again and then, next step, Mars! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
What Happens Next
U.S. Navy teams operating from amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha planned to secure Orion, extract the crew by helicopter and conduct initial medical evaluations aboard the ship before flying the astronauts back to shore, NBC News reports.
Update 4/10/26, 9:26 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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