Artemis II astronauts return home after 694,392 miles journey

NASA's Artemis II mission culminated with the Orion spacecraft splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026, after a 10-day journey covering 694,392 miles (1,117,515 km). This mission marked the first human spaceflight to the moon's vicinity in over 50 years, including a lunar flyby about 252,000 miles away. The successful splashdown demonstrated the Orion spacecraft's ability to withstand re-entry stresses, reaching temperatures of approximately 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius). This accomplishment is a crucial step toward planned lunar landings starting in 2028, potentially influencing future NASA missions and funding.