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HD video shows Artemis II SLS upper stage separating from Orion after April 1 launch

This HD video provided by NASA shows the SLS upper stage of the Artemis rocket—known as the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS)—separated from the spacecraft after delivering Orion to space during the April 1 launch.

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Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman on why the crew synced their watches at post-mission ceremony

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The moment hundreds of flight controllers rushed into Mission Control to celebrate Artemis II splashdown

Following the successful splashdown of the Artemis II mission on April 10, 2026, hundreds of flight controllers and personnel rushed into the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to celebrate the crew’s safe return.

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" We are a mirror reflecting you": Jeremy Hansen’s first words after Artemis II mission strike a chord online

CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen said the Artemis II crew wasn’t just a group of astronauts, but people who found purpose and joy in contributing to something bigger than themselves. His words moved the internet.

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Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch recalls being struck most by the "blackness around Earth"

From space, Earth looked less like the center of everything (what we feel on the planet) and more like a small “lifeboat” floating in endless darkness, said Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch in her first words after returning from the Moon mission.

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"Gratitude is too big to just be in one body": Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover chokes up during post-mission speech in Houston

When words fail, the Artemis II crew goes for one big group hug Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover got emotional while delivering his first words post the Moon mission, saying he was “afraid to start talking” because he still hasn’t fully processed everything he just experienced. He said the emotions and gratitude he felt were “too big to just be in one body.” The crew has just returned after an almost 10-day mission, with the splashdown occurring at 5:07 PM Pacific Time off the coast of San Diego on April 10.

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"It's a special thing to be a human": Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman after returning from Moon mission

Artemis II Commander talked about the emotional toll of the mission, saying that being more than 200,000 miles from Earth felt like a dream before the launch on April 1, but reality quickly shifted once they reached space. He shared that the experience deepened his appreciation for home, adding that all he wanted while out there was to return to his family and friends. The crew returned to Earth on April 10.

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Houston celebrates Artemis II astronauts’ return from Moon mission

Fresh from their mission around the Moon, the Artemis II astronauts received a roaring welcome on April 11 from hundreds marking NASA’s historic return to deep space. The crew landed at Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, after departing San Diego, where their spacecraft splashed down just hours earlier.

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One by one, Artemis II astronauts step out of Integrity after splashdown

The Artemis II crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—safely returned to Earth after their nearly 10-day journey around the Moon. Splashdown occurred at 5:07 PM Pacific Time on April 10 in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams swiftly moved in. The astronauts were extracted from Orion and welcomed aboard the USS John P. Murtha, marking a flawless end to a historic mission.

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WATCH: Orion’s crew module split from the service module before returning to Earth

Just before Orion’s crew touched down on April 10, the crew module detached from the service module.

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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman calls Artemis II astronauts "ambassadors from humanity to the stars"

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the Artemis II crew's professionalism, communication, and dedication. He emphasized that their flawless mission is not a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, but the beginning of a new era of lunar exploration. With Artemis II successfully orbiting the Moon and returning safely, NASA is gearing up for frequent Moon missions leading to the first lunar landing and base by 2028.

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WATCH: Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch waves to the camera after splashdown