NASA's Artemis II Crew Returns After Historic 10-Day Lunar Orbit Mission

The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission splashed down safely off the southern coast of California, completing a historic 10-day journey orbiting the Moon.

NASA hailed the mission as the first crewed lunar flight in more than 50 years, since the Apollo era. The crew conducted tests of navigation systems, life-support equipment and deep-space operations without landing on the lunar surface.

Agency officials described Artemis II as a critical step toward returning humans to the Moon and advancing the broader Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface and support future missions to Mars.

NASA released footage of the splashdown, showing the crew's capsule parachuting into the Pacific Ocean. The mission marks a major milestone in the U.S. space agency's efforts to resume human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.

The Artemis program builds on lessons from previous missions to prepare for more ambitious goals, including landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon in future flights.