Artemis crew returning to Earth with 'all the good stuff' from Moon discoveries

The Artemis II crew is returning to Earth after their mission around the Moon, scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego around 20:00 Friday US EDT. The astronauts, including Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, reported they are bringing back significant data, pictures, and stories from their historic lunar flyby, which took them further from Earth than any other humans. Glover emphasized the wealth of information to be shared, while Wiseman highlighted the naming of a lunar crater after his late wife as a pinnacle moment. The crew has been receiving news about the mission's public perception from their families. Koch stated she will miss the camaraderie of the mission.

The Artemis II astronauts, after completing their lunar flyby on Monday, April 6, 2026, made a historic long-distance call to the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday as they journeyed back to Earth. This marked the first moonship-to-spaceship radio linkup, a feat not possible during the Apollo missions. Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew, including Christina Koch, connected with astronauts aboard the ISS, including Jessica Meir, who previously conducted the first all-female spacewalk with Koch. The call, arranged by Houston's Mission Control, allowed the Artemis II and ISS crews to share their experiences and celebrate their shared presence in space despite the vast distance separating them.

The Artemis II crew captured a photo of Earthset from the far side of the moon on Tuesday, during their return journey from a lunar fly-by. NASA released the image, drawing a parallel to the famous Earthrise photo taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. The photo features Earth descending below the lunar horizon, highlighting the contrast between the two celestial bodies. The Artemis II mission, involving astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, is a crucial step in NASA's program to prepare for a future moon landing planned for 2028. The fly-by served as a test and demonstration for future lunar missions.

The Artemis II mission, launched on April 1st by NASA, has successfully completed its initial tests, demonstrating the functionality of the Orion capsule with a crew onboard. The mission's success has generated optimism, but questions remain about the feasibility of a Moon landing by 2028. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the need for more frequent launches of the Space Launch System (SLS) to maintain momentum and avoid relearning lessons. The SLS rocket performed as planned, generating 8.8 million pounds of thrust and requiring fewer course corrections than anticipated. The Artemis II mission is crucial for NASA's goal of returning humans to the Moon.

The Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts, is commencing a flyby of the moon's far side, setting them on course to become the furthest humans from Earth. The crew has entered the moon's sphere of influence, where its gravity supersedes Earth's. This six-hour flyby is the mission's climax, aiming to surpass the Apollo 13 record for distance from Earth. Unlike the Apollo missions, Artemis II will orbit at a higher altitude, allowing observation of the entire lunar surface, including the poles. The free-return trajectory utilizes Earth and moon gravity to conserve fuel, guiding the spacecraft back home after passing behind the moon, during which a communications blackout is expected. The astronauts will visually observe and photograph the lunar surface, capturing views previously unseen by humans.

On Monday, a NASA crew of four astronauts on the Artemis II mission will fly by the far side of the moon, reaching their closest distance to the lunar surface and the nearest any human has been to the moon in over 50 years. This fly-by, scheduled for just after 7pm New York time, will allow the astronauts to photograph the moon's far side, which is never visible from Earth. The Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, is a rehearsal to test vehicles for future lunar landings, potentially within two years. Earlier in the day, around 2pm New York time, the crew will break the record for the farthest distance humans have traveled in space, surpassing the Apollo 13 mission's record from 1970.

The Artemis II mission, launched by NASA, is currently underway with the goal of performing a lunar fly-around. The astronauts are aiming to set a new distance record from Earth. The mission, which began in early April 2026, involves the crew traveling in the Orion spacecraft. A key objective is to provide the astronauts with unprecedented views of the far side of the moon. NASA has released images taken by the crew during their journey, showcasing the moon and Earth from space.

NASA released the first images taken from the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, showing Earth as the four astronauts journey around the moon. The photos, taken on Friday, April 3, 2026, depict Earth with cloud formations and a green aurora. As of Friday, the crew, including mission commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch, were 100,000 miles from Earth and closing in on the moon, which they are expected to reach on Monday. The Artemis II mission is a planned 10-day flight where the crew will fly around the moon in the Orion capsule before returning to Earth without landing. The spacecraft was set on its course after the crew fired Orion’s main engine on Thursday night.

The Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed moon mission in over 50 years, has captured initial images of Earth from space. Commander Reid Wiseman took the photos from the Orion spacecraft, approximately 145,000 km (90,000 miles) from Earth. One image shows a curved slice of Earth through a capsule window, while the other captures the entire globe with cloud formations. The images were released by NASA on Friday, one and a half days into the mission. The Artemis II crew is continuing its journey, with another 270,000 km (168,000 miles) to the moon.

NASA has released the first images of Earth captured by the Artemis-2 crew aboard the Orion capsule. The photos were taken during the mission, which is a crucial step towards returning humans to the Moon. Artemis-2 involves a crewed flyby of the Moon, testing Orion's systems in preparation for future lunar landings. The mission aims to demonstrate the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. These images provide a unique perspective of Earth from deep space, highlighting the mission's progress and offering a glimpse of what future lunar missions will experience.

NASA has given the Artemis II crew, consisting of American and Canadian astronauts, the go-ahead to initiate a lunar fly-by, marking the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years. The approval allows the astronauts to fire the Orion capsule's engine for nearly six minutes, beginning at 7:49 PM, to propel the spacecraft out of Earth's orbit and commence the three-day journey to the moon. The mission follows the successful launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During their initial hours in space, the crew addressed minor technical issues, including communication problems and a malfunctioning toilet. Flight controllers will closely monitor the engine performance and navigation data during the maneuver.

Artemis II, NASA's first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years using its most powerful rocket, will not land on the lunar surface. This mission serves as a crucial preparatory step for a potential lunar landing targeted for 2028. The Artemis program aims to use Artemis II to pave the way for more ambitious deep space exploration endeavors. The launch is taking place in Florida. The BBC is providing live coverage of the Artemis II mission.

The Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts on a lunar voyage, launched on Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This marks humanity's first lunar voyage in over fifty years and is a crucial step in NASA's plan to land on the moon within two years. Following the launch, a problem arose with the spacecraft's toilet. An overnight fix was implemented, and the toilet is now functioning properly, much to the relief of the astronauts. The Artemis II mission is a high-stakes flight around the moon.

NASA's Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will send four astronauts on a lunar fly-around, marking humanity's first trip to the moon since 1972. The mission will last less than 10 days, with the Orion capsule traveling thousands of miles beyond the moon before returning to Earth. The Artemis II crew includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, representing a diverse and international team. The mission aims to test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule in preparation for future lunar landings. The SLS rocket, while shorter than the Apollo program's Saturn V, is more powerful at liftoff.

The Artemis II mission will send four astronauts to orbit the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. The crew consists of three NASA astronauts: Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. These individuals are experienced pilots, engineers, and scientists. Wiseman, a US Navy test pilot and single father, previously served on the International Space Station. The mission aims to test the path for future lunar habitation and eventual Mars exploration. The astronauts are preparing for the risks involved while balancing their personal lives and families.

NASA has begun the countdown for the Artemis II mission, humanity's first lunar launch in 53 years, scheduled for Wednesday evening. The Space Launch System rocket will carry four astronauts in the Orion capsule on a nearly 10-day flight to orbit the moon and return to Earth. The mission involves a lunar flyby without landing, culminating in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The launch, initially planned for February, was delayed due to hydrogen fuel leaks, but managers report the rocket is now in good condition, and the weather forecast is favorable. This mission marks a significant step in NASA's renewed focus on lunar exploration.

NASA has begun the countdown for the Artemis II mission, humanity's first launch to the moon in 53 years. The Artemis II moon rocket is currently situated on Launch Pad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This mission marks a significant step in lunar exploration since the Apollo 16 mission in April 1972. Preparations are underway, including software demonstrations and remote camera setups, to support the crew's lunar observations. The Artemis II mission aims to further scientific understanding of the moon and pave the way for future lunar endeavors.

NASA's Artemis II mission marks the return of humans to the moon after over half a century since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The Artemis II mission, scheduled for the future, will not land on the moon or orbit it, but serves as a crucial step toward future lunar landings. The four-member crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (from Canada). The crew has been training for the mission at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis II mission utilizes NASA’s Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft. This mission is a significant milestone in NASA's renewed focus on lunar exploration.