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2mo ago

Artemis II Crew Splashes Down Safely After 10-Day Lunar Flyby

The flawless return clears NASA to plan the next crewed steps toward a lunar landing.

Image diffusée le 9 avril 2026 par la Nasa montrant une vue de la Lune, prise par l'équipage d'Artémis II depuis le vaisseau spatial Orion, le 6 avril 2026
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Mission Artemis II : «La contribue européenne sur ces missions est cruciale», explique Patrick Michel [Bill INGALLS / NASA / AFP]

Overview

  • The four astronauts, who splashed down Friday off California, were retrieved by the U.S. Navy after Orion reached its planned recovery zone.
  • Orion survived a roughly 39,000 km/h reentry as its heat shield withstood near 2,700–2,800°C and parachutes slowed the descent, easing concerns raised by a 2022 test.
  • The crew looped the Moon, set a human distance mark of about 406,000–407,000 km from Earth, captured thousands of images, and witnessed a solar eclipse behind the lunar disk.
  • NASA pushed live visuals through an optical laser link and major streaming platforms, while fact-checkers debunked AI-made or misattributed photos that circulated during and after the flight.
  • NASA now targets a crewed surface return in 2028–2029, a goal that depends on commercial lunar landers staying on schedule and on partner roles such as Europe’s service module that powered Orion.