After Artemis 2: Crew's Highly Anticipated Return Date Set

Artemis II, NASA's historic lunar flyby mission, is the agency's first crewed journey around the Moon in over 50 years. Launched on April 1, 2026, the four-person crew aboard the Orion spacecraft has completed a major milestone with the lunar flyby, providing rare views of the Moon and deep space.

The mission is designed to last around 10 days from launch to splashdown, covering approximately 240,000 miles to the Moon and back to Earth while testing the Orion spacecraft's systems in deep space.

Return to Earth

Artemis II is expected to return to Earth between April 10-11, 2026, about 10 days after its launch. The crew, consisting of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Live coverage and updates for Artemis II are available on NASA TV, the agency's official website, and social media platforms like YouTube. Real-time updates, mission milestones, and videos from inside the Orion spacecraft are being shared throughout the mission.

New Photos and Updates

NASA is releasing new images from the mission on its website, image library, and social media channels. These include views of Earth from deep space and close-up shots from the lunar flyby. Additionally, HollywoodLife offers a full gallery of Artemis II images, showcasing stunning visuals of the Moon, Earthset, and more.