The Artemis II spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego at 5:07 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday. The landing concluded the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972. NASA confirmed the splashdown occurred within the planned recovery zone. The four astronauts aboard the Integrity capsule were retrieved by U.S. Navy divers and helicopters within two hours.
Artemis II carried NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The mission tested the Orion spacecraft’s systems during a 10-day journey around the Moon. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson called the landing "a flawless return" and praised the team’s work.
Recovery teams from the USS San Diego amphibious transport dock led the operation. The ship’s crew secured the capsule before transferring it to a hangar for inspection. Engineers will now analyze data from the flight to prepare for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts near the lunar south pole.
The mission marked a key step in NASA’s plan to return humans to the Moon. It tested life support, navigation, and re-entry systems. The successful splashdown ensures NASA can move forward with its Artemis program timeline.
The U.S. and international partners, including Canada, contributed to the mission. The next flight, Artemis III, is scheduled for 2026 and will include the first woman and person of color on the Moon.
Source: techcrunch.com