The Digester
science

Artemis II returns safely after far side lunar flyby

Four astronauts splashed down off California after Orion survived a high-speed reentry, completing a test flight that visited the Moon's far side and collected data for future crewed lunar missions.

Apr 11th 2026 · United States

Insights

  • Four Artemis II astronauts returned healthy after a Pacific splashdown near San Diego.
  • Orion endured a 13 minute reentry reaching speeds above 40,000 km/h and temperatures over 2,500 degrees Celsius.
  • Crew members were recovered from the spacecraft about 50 minutes after splashdown by a US Navy recovery team.
  • The flight included a transit of the Moon's far side and tested systems needed for future crewed lunar and deep space missions.
  • Mission data included human health and spacecraft performance information to inform upcoming Artemis missions.

Sources