Artemis II Mission Milestones: An Image and Video Recap
NASA's Artemis II launched on April 1, 2026, marking the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen splashed down on April 10 after a 252,756-mile journey, setting a record for human space travel distance. The mission aims to advance lunar exploration and prepare for Mars.

What Are Ames’ Contributions to Artemis II?
NASA's Ames Research Center significantly contributed to Artemis II, enhancing the Orion spacecraft's heat shield and aerothermal simulations. The mission, launched on April 1, 2026, marked the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen aboard. Key innovations included 3D-MAT compression pads and advanced modeling tools for safer reentry.

NASA Artemis II Human Research Data Methodology Challenge
NASA's Artemis II crew, including Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, returned from a lunar mission on April 7, 2026. The mission provided critical data for NASA's Human Research Program, focusing on astronaut health in deep space. A challenge with a $25,000 prize seeks innovative methodologies to analyze this unique dataset from the mission.

Jeremy Hansen and Artemis II crew discuss historic lunar mission
Jeremy Hansen and the Artemis II crew, having traveled farther than any humans before, debriefed at the Johnson Space Center. They troubleshot alarms 128,000 kilometers from Earth and experienced reentry at 35 times the speed of sound. Their mission marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration, showcasing human resilience and technological advancement in space travel.

Artemis II astronauts praise Orion capsule, reflect on mission impact
NASA’s Artemis II crew praised the Orion capsule's performance post-mission, highlighting its smooth reentry and minor technical issues. Commander Reid Wiseman noted the capsule's readiness for Artemis III. The nine-day mission marked NASA's first crewed lunar flight since Apollo 17, with astronauts reflecting on its positive public impact during a press conference at NASA Johnson.

Artemis II astronauts gazed at our Moon with joy, curiosity, and reverence. Through finer robotic orbital views, so can you.
Orion spacecraft with Artemis II astronauts returned to Earth on April 10 after a lunar flyby on April 6. The crew, including Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, and Reid Wiseman, experienced peak gravitational loads during reentry. The mission achieved significant milestones, showcasing lunar features like the Orientale basin and numerous crater chains, enhancing lunar exploration understanding.

Artemis II Flight Day 10: Crew Sets for Final Burn, Splashdown
Artemis II crew, including NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Victor Glover, along with Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, prepared for their final burn and splashdown on April 10, 2026. Splashdown is targeted for 8:07 p.m. EDT off San Diego after a 694,481-mile journey, marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration.

Artemis II Flight Day 9: Crew Prepares to Come Home
NASA's Artemis II crew, including Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, prepares for splashdown on April 10, 2026. Following a lunar swing, they exited the Moon's influence on April 7. The crew is conducting re-entry procedures, including trajectory correction burns, and will splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT.

Artemis II Flight Day 8: Crew Conducts Key Tests on Return to Earth
Artemis II crew members Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen conducted key tests aboard the Orion spacecraft, including orthostatic intolerance garment evaluations and manual piloting demonstrations. Following their lunar flyby, they are preparing for splashdown on April 10, 2026, off the coast of San Diego, ensuring all systems are ready for re-entry.

Artemis II Flight Day 7: First Return Correction Burn Complete
NASA's Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, successfully completed its first return correction burn on Flight Day 7, igniting thrusters for 15 seconds at 8:03 p.m. EDT, achieving a velocity change of 1.6 feet-per-second. Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen monitored the spacecraft's systems, while the crew prepares for upcoming flight test objectives and return tasks on April 8.

Artemis II Flight Day 7: Crew Makes Long‑Distance Call, Begins Return
NASA's Artemis II crew, including astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, began their return journey after a lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. They will exit the Moon's gravity at 1:23 p.m. EDT, followed by a call with ISS astronauts at 2:40 p.m. and a trajectory correction burn at 9:03 p.m.

Why haven’t humans gone back to the Moon no longer a valid question thanks to NASA Artemis II lunar flyby
NASA's Artemis II successfully launched on April 1, 2026, marking humanity's return to the Moon after five decades. The crew, including Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Jeremy Hansen, completed a lunar flyby on April 6. This mission alleviates doubts about lunar exploration and showcases the Orion spacecraft's capabilities, enhancing public interest in future lunar missions.

Witnessing lift off of first humans to venture to the Moon since 1972
NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully launched on April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts aboard the SLS rocket from Kennedy Space Center. This historic flight marks the first crewed lunar mission since 1972, featuring Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover. The mission includes a 10-day journey around the Moon, showcasing significant milestones for space exploration.

Meet the Crew of Artemis II
NASA's Artemis II crew, including Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, will embark on a 10-day lunar mission aboard the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This mission will validate deep space systems and pave the way for future lunar surface exploration, including landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon.