The crewed spacecraft Artemis 2 has returned to Earth after a 10-day lunar mission. The resumption of human lunar exploration, 54 years after Apollo 17 in 1972, is expected to extend into a space economy, unlike past missions aimed at proving systemic superiority.
According to NASA's live broadcast, the Orion crew capsule splashed down in the ocean near San Diego at 8:07 p.m. Eastern Time on the 10th, ten days after launching from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the 1st.
Artemis 2 entered Earth's atmosphere at 7:37 p.m. and descended rapidly at Mach 33. The four astronauts aboard—Commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—endured gravitational forces of 3.5 to 4 G.
During reentry, plasma formed around the Orion capsule's exterior, causing a six-minute communications blackout. After communications resumed, the drogue parachutes and three main parachutes deployed successfully, reducing descent speed to less than 200 feet (61 meters) per second. The capsule splashed down at the expected location, completing the return to Earth.
NASA spokesperson Rob Navias, who provided commentary during the live broadcast, described it as a "perfect bull's-eye splashdown." Commander Wiseman reported shortly after splashdown: "It was an incredible journey. We are in a stable condition. All four astronauts are doing well."
It took approximately 90 minutes for the astronauts to emerge after splashdown. The U.S. Navy needed time to check for toxic substances around the capsule and attach inflatable stabilization devices. When all four astronauts had transferred to the life raft and Commander Wiseman finally exited the capsule, cheers from the Houston mission control team could be heard on the broadcast.
At a welcome ceremony at Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center on the 11th, Commander Wiseman spoke with emotion in his voice. Spreading his hands about shoulder-width apart, he said: "Twenty-four hours ago, Earth looked about this big through the window and we were traveling at Mach 39. Now we're at Ellington, we're home."
He continued: "Being more than 200,000 miles from Earth seems like the greatest dream in the world before launch, but when you're actually out there, you just want to get back to your family and friends." He added emphatically: "Being human is a special thing, and living on Earth is a special thing."
The Artemis 2 astronauts orbited at distances of 6,437 to 9,656 kilometers from the lunar surface, observing the entire far side of the Moon that had not been seen with the naked eye before. They also documented phenomena including flash events from meteorites striking the lunar surface and a total solar eclipse.
Additionally, the crew assessed the effects of space radiation on the human body and tested life support systems and spacesuit functionality. All this data will be used for future space missions.
Based on the scientific data obtained from this mission, NASA plans to launch Artemis 3 into Earth orbit in 2027 to test docking and maneuvering capabilities. In 2028, Artemis 4 is scheduled to land two people on the lunar surface. NASA has also set a goal of sending astronauts to Mars for the first time using nuclear-powered spacecraft in the 2030s.
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: "Congratulations to our great and talented Artemis 2 astronauts. The entire journey was dramatic and the landing was perfect. I couldn't be prouder as President of the United States."
He added: "I hope to see you at the White House soon. We will do this again, and the next step is Mars."
