The Artemis II astronauts have safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, concluding their groundbreaking 10-day mission with what NASA hailed as a “textbook touchdown.”
The crew’s capsule landed at 00:07 GMT (20:07 EDT), marking the successful end of the first crewed Artemis flight. Commander Reid Wiseman confirmed the team’s condition immediately after landing: “We are stable one, four green crew members. What a journey.”
Although a brief communications issue followed the splashdown, NASA officials reassured the public that the astronauts were “happy and healthy.” A live broadcast captured an announcer declaring the crew “in great condition” and “all in excellent shape.”
At a press conference, agency representatives emphasized the significance of the mission, describing it as the dawn of a new chapter in human space exploration. “This is the start of a new era,” NASA stated, underscoring the importance of Artemis II in paving the way for future lunar and deep-space missions.
The safe return of the four astronauts marks a milestone in NASA’s ambitious Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and prepare for eventual journeys to Mars.
