We are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the Artemis II mission on April 10, 2026. This historic endeavor marked humanity’s first crewed flight to the Moon in over 50 years, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all those involved.

The Artemis II team comprises:

• Commander Reid Wiseman
• Pilot Victor Glover
• Mission Specialists Christina Koch
• Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen

Their 10-day journey covered an incredible distance of 406,771 km (252,756 miles) from Earth. The mission included a lunar flyby on April 6, where the crew captured stunning images of the Moon’s far side and witnessed a solar eclipse. They also experienced a six-minute communications blackout while behind the lunar surface.

The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, safely re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 24,000 mph and performed a flawless splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at 00:07 GMT (20:07 EDT). The crew was recovered by the USS John P Murtha and confirmed to be “happy and healthy” during a press conference.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has praised this mission as a triumph, highlighting the success of the Orion, SLS, and international partnership in supporting deep space exploration. This successful journey validates the hardware and procedures necessary for future missions, including Artemis III, which is currently being redesigned as an Earth-orbital test for docking with commercial landers like SpaceX Starship and Blue Origin’s New Glenn, with a target launch in mid-2027.

We extend our deepest congratulations once again to all the individuals and teams involved in this historic achievement. The Artemis II mission is a testament to human ingenuity, determination, and the pursuit of exploring new frontiers.