Artemis II just took humankind farther than ever before. 🚀
Our European Service Module sent Orion around the Moon and safely back home, providing power, propulsion and life support for the crew.
Relive the mission with our highlights video.👇
Welcome home Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy! 🫶
The Artemis II astronauts have splashed down at 8:07pm ET (0007 UTC April 11), bringing their historic 10-day mission around the Moon to an end.
Ready… set… Earth! 🌎
As Artemis II flew around the far side of the Moon, the crew captured a new view of home. These images show Earthset, when Earth dips below the lunar horizon. Parts of Australia & Oceania are visible, while the dark side of Earth is experiencing nighttime.
While the Artemis II crew are experiencing their own personal solar eclipse, Mission Control will temporarily lose communications with the capsule. This is planned and expected. We anticipate regaining communications in about 30 minutes.
No days off when you’re Moonbound.
@Astro_Christina continues prep for tomorrow’s lunar flyby after completing her workout.
Meanwhile, our entire world watches in anticipation with hope and excitement as the @NASAArtemis II crew presses on toward the Moon.
Artemis II just hit the "two thirds" mark of the journey to the Moon.
During Flight Day 4, the astronauts aboard Orion went over plans to study the Moon during their upcoming lunar flyby and are currently practicing manually controlling the spacecraft.
"We can see the Moon out of the docking hatch right now. It's a beautiful sight."
Flight day 3 is in the books, and our @NASAArtemis II crew is now closer to the Moon than to Earth. Check out highlights from our lunar mission. What’s been your favorite moment so far?
Lock in, we’re Moonbound.
Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway to their destination, and preparations for lunar flyby are underway. During their trip around the far side of the Moon, they will capture imagery to share with scientists (and you, too!).
Next stop: lunar flyby.
The Orion spacecraft recently ignited its main engine on the service module for about six minutes to provide about 6,000 pounds of thrust. This maneuver not only sets the Artemis II astronauts on the path to the Moon. It also puts the crew in a free return trajectory, which will allow them to use Moon's gravity to return to Earth. https://t.co/P3PlcEIF7U