Welcome Home! Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy Return Triumphantly from the Artemis II Mission
The four astronauts of the Artemis II mission — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — returned safely to Earth today after successfully completing the first crewed mission around the Moon in more than 50 years. The Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, where they were recovered by NASA teams. The mission broke the record for the longest human spaceflight from Earth and captured stunning color images of the Moon.
- With smiles, greetings, and the traditional “Welcome home” NASA welcomed the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission this afternoon: Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen (mission specialists). The Orion capsule successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after completing a historic 10-day mission around the Moon.
- The crew was quickly recovered by US Navy rescue teams and transferred to the recovery ship. All are in excellent health after having traveled farther from Earth than any other human being in history (surpassing the record set by Apollo 13).
- During the mission, Artemis II not only successfully tested the Orion spacecraft's systems in a real lunar environment, but also captured stunning images of the Moon that reveal its true color palette: blues from titanium, oranges from ancient volcanic rocks, and marked differences in iron composition between the near and far sides. “It was an honor to represent humanity on this journey¨.The Moon is much more beautiful and complex than we imagined,” said Reid Wiseman after descending from the capsule. The Artemis II mission marks a crucial step toward the return of astronauts to the lunar surface with Artemis III, planned for late 2026 or early 2027.
- NASA and the Artemis team celebrated the success with a heartwarming welcome in Houston, where family members and agency staff awaited with banners and applause. President Donald Trump congratulated the crew via Truth Social, highlighting the achievement as "a great American triumph and a giant step towards Mars."
???? BREAKING: Incredible sight as the final Artemis II astronaut is LIFTED into the helicopter and moved to safety, after getting out of the capsule.
This is AWESOME! America makes history again. pic.twitter.com/wsGsdU5Zol — K13 News (@K13News) April 11, 2026
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