Artemis II Mission Concludes with Safe Splashdown, Bringing Humans Back from Lunar Orbit

On April 10, 2026, NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, marking the safe conclusion of the Artemis II mission, which sent four astronauts around the Moon and back for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

This historic achievement was powered by ESA’s European Service Module (ESM), which provided the essential propulsion, power, and life support systems to carry the crew on their journey. The ESM’s reliable performance was critical for this pioneering step in humanity’s return to lunar exploration.

The splashdown occurred at 17:07 local time (01:07 BST/02:07 CEST on April 11), with the crew safely recovered. This successful mission paves the way for the next stages of the Artemis program.