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An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Watch live! Artemis 2 astronauts return to Earth after historic moon mission - YouTube
Watch On Today, April 10, NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts are set to return to Earth from the moon, bringing their historic 10-day mission to a close.
Splashdown is expected at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT (0007 GMT on April 11) off the coast of California — a similar location to where the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission landed in December 2022.
Orion capsule shortly after splashdown during the Artemis 1 mission, Dec. 11, 2022. (Image credit: NASA)
The four astronauts, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, will re-enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds of up to 24,000 mph (38,600 kph). During the spacecraft's roughly 13-minute descent, the Orion capsule will endure temperatures of up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius).
A heat shield will protect the crew as parachutes deploy to slow the capsule before it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.
The astronauts will then be recovered by the USS John Murtha and escorted back to shore.
The mission marks the first crewed journey to the moon in more than 50 years and a major milestone in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface with Artemis 4.
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Daisy DobrijevicSkywatching EditorDaisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022, having previously worked as a staff writer for All About Space magazine. She completed an editorial internship with BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre, communicating space science to the public.
Daisy holds a PhD in plant physiology and a Master's in Environmental Science. Based in Nottingham, U.K., she covers all things space, with a special focus on solar activity and space weather. She also has a keen interest in astrotourism and is always on the lookout for the next northern lights adventure.
She will be a guest speaker aboard HX's Solar Eclipse Expedition in August 2026 and will join Hurtigruten as an onboard astronomer for a northern lights sailing in January 2027.
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