In a landmark moment marking humanity’s return to crewed lunar exploration after more than half a century, four astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission have completed their 10-day voyage around the moon and touched down safely off the California coast, the U.S. space agency confirmed.
The mission’s Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 17:07 local time on Friday (00:07 GMT Saturday), roughly 96 kilometers off the coast of San Diego, according to NASA’s official mission updates. This successful return caps a milestone journey: it is the first crewed lunar mission launched by the United States since NASA’s Apollo 17 mission lifted off from the moon in 1972, ending the first era of human lunar landings.
Shortly after the capsule completed its splashdown, Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman announced that all four members of the crew are in good condition, easing any post-mission health concerns that followed the high-speed atmospheric reentry. The successful conclusion of Artemis II paves the way for the upcoming Artemis III mission, which plans to land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, advancing NASA’s long-term goals of establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon and preparing for future crewed missions to Mars.