NASA's Orion spacecraft successfully completed the Artemis II mission, returning four astronauts to Earth after a historic lunar flyby—the first crewed Moon mission in 54 years. The capsule endured extreme re-entry conditions, including a plasma blackout and 5,000°F heat, before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. All crew members were reported in good health, marking a critical milestone for NASA's lunar exploration program.
Background
NASA's Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon and establish sustainable lunar exploration as a stepping stone to Mars. The Artemis II mission is the first crewed flight test of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Apr 11, 2026 at 09:21 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10