WATCH HERE: Artemis II Splashes Down After Moon Mission

Astronauts on the Artemis II have officially landed back on Earth.

On Friday evening, the Artemis II splashed into the Pacific Ocean after a 10-day journey to the moon.

Here’s the moment it happened:

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. pic.twitter.com/1yjAgHEOYl

— NASA (@NASA) April 11, 2026

🚨 BREAKING: The Artemis II crew has SUCCESSFULLY emerged from the capsule, into NASA's lifeboats after splashing down from their lunar orbit mission

This crew now holds the WORLD RECORD for the FARTHEST DISTANCE humans have ever traveled from Earth.

ONLY America could do it!🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/DP3R4nOYa3

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 11, 2026

USA Today provided details on the landing:

As millions of people held their breath, the four Artemis II astronauts flawlessly splashed down back to Earth in the Orion capsule, ending their history-making 10-day mission to the moon and back.

“We are back in the business of sending astronauts back to the moon. This is just the beginning,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said from the deck of USS John P. Murtha, which is acting as the recovery ship for the Orion spacecraft.

“I’m honestly still at a loss for words,” Isaacman said. “The childhood Jared right now can’t believe what I just saw.”

The splashdown, which happened in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT / 5:07 p.m. PDT, followed a harrowing and dangerous reentry, where NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen, traveled at speeds up to 25,000 mph ‒ possibly faster than humans have ever traveled.

Here’s the moment the astronauts got out of the capsule:

🚨EPIC: NASA crew just ARRIVED at the Artemis II launch pad, walking the crew access arm and signing the wall at Kennedy Space Center.

They’re geared up and ready to make history by launching to the Moon!pic.twitter.com/plJ6O9U7j4

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) April 1, 2026

Following the successful landing, President Trump made a statement on Truth Social:

Congratulations to the Great and Very Talented Crew of Artemis II. The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I could not be more proud! I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. We’ll be doing it again and then, next step, Mars! President DONALD J. TRUMP

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🇺🇸‼️ — AHORA: Comunicado del presidente Donald Trump sobre la exitosa misión Artemis II y anuncia que el próximo paso será ir a MARTE.

“Felicitaciones a la magnífica y talentosa tripulación de Artemis II. El viaje fue espectacular, el amerizaje fue perfecto y, como Presidente de… pic.twitter.com/ISGcL5SWas

— Agustín Antonetti (@agusantonetti) April 11, 2026