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News & Current Events Apr 10, 2026 at 2:22 PM

Artemis II crew to end record-setting mission with Pacific Ocean splashdown

Posted by ApprehensiveCraft289

‘Just the beginning’: Artemis II crew splashes down after record-breaking moon flyby
the Guardian
‘Just the beginning’: Artemis II crew splashes down after record-breaking moon flyby
The four astronauts touched down on Earth off the coast of California, concluding historic 10-day mission
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CJtrainfollower Apr 10, 2026 +108
I think there are 7 hours to go till splashdown.
108
Strong_Letterhead638 Apr 10, 2026 +48
It’s about 9.5 hours from now. Re-entry starts at 7:53pm EST and takes about 20+ minutes 
48
CJtrainfollower Apr 10, 2026 +12
7 hours and 23 minutes in NASA app
12
Strong_Letterhead638 Apr 10, 2026 +23
I think you’re talking about when the live broadcast show for reentry starts. Actual reentry and splashdown is later. 
23
Mysterious_Camel_717 Apr 10, 2026 +9
Yeah that’s how I got tricked into watching 4+ hours of astronauts talking about which camera would go in which window. #worthit
9
TheMoves Apr 10, 2026 +2
They're going to be late for coachella smh
2
swagonflyyyy Apr 10, 2026 +15
holy shit 7 hours? That was fast.
15
eelthing Apr 10, 2026 +20
Just a quick jaunt to the moon and back.
20
camander321 Apr 10, 2026 +5
Spun some donuts in the parking lot, and then dipped out
5
nukacola12 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Yeah it really shows that travel to the moon is feasible if we ever set up industry there
1
ilikemgs Apr 10, 2026 +15
Am I allowed to rent a boat to go watch them land?
15
RIPphonebattery Apr 10, 2026 +18
Depends on how much attention from aircraft carriers you like. There's a large exclusion zone
18
Unlikely_Tax_1111 Apr 10, 2026 +5
If you jump high and fast enough you may be able to ride a cruise missile and recreate Dr Strangelove
5
ilikemgs Apr 10, 2026 +2
Aw bummer
2
ChickenFlavoredCake Apr 10, 2026 +17
The article is counting chickens before they're hatched, almost jinxing the astronauts. > The number of human beings who have travelled to the moon and returned safely to Earth will grow to 28 on Friday night > Nasa has proven it can once again send humans safely to and from cislunar space > Koch became the only woman to have travelled to the moon and back during a mission of firsts
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Biggieholla Apr 10, 2026 -11
But I dont understand. They didnt land on the moon? What was the point of this mission?
-11
siqiangz Apr 10, 2026 +12
I assume test runs before the actual landing mission. Apollo was the same.
12
ZombieJesus1987 Apr 10, 2026 +9
Testing systems on spacecraft, doing test runs. Gotta make sure the rocket works, along with all of the science tools. The Apollo program had similar missions where they sent a crew to the moon to test systems out. Apollo 8 they sent a crew to orbit the moon. It is where the famous "Earthrise" photo came from. Apollo 10 they sent a crew to the moon to test out the maneuverability of the lander. They called it the "dress rehearsal". The crew flew the lander down to 8 miles above the surface before flying it back up to the command module.
9
TheWastelandWizard Apr 10, 2026 +4
They tested new equipment, sensors, did scouting, and I believe tested a new pressure suit while in the airlock. There were various experiments they ran while up there as well, not to mention studying future landing/build sites and terrain. They also named 2 craters/features.
4
prism1234 Apr 10, 2026 +3
The actual lander module isn't done yet. This was to test the other parts. SpaceX was supposed to make the lander, which originally was supposed to land on the moon during Artemis 3, but it's behind schedule so now they are just going to test a lander, if one is ready for testing then, but not actually land. Blue Origin is also working on a lander so basically whichever is ready first will be used. The actual landing will hopefully happen during Artemis 4 in 2028. Unlike Apollo, which launched them together, on Artemis the crew module and lander are launched separately on different rockets and then will dock together at the moon, so they are more independent. The docking procedure at the moon should be tested on Artemis 3, unless the landers aren't ready for that.
3
GlassEase8444 Apr 10, 2026 +3
trial run for a base on the moon. it's on nasa website
3
Painwracker_Oni Apr 10, 2026 +2
To test and make sure what they currently have is safe/functions as intended. You can't have serious errors in space, there is no real way to come back from them, without some incredible miracles. Now that they know the technology works and performs as required/needed, they can add more steps to the next mission.
2
Specialist-Garbage94 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Tom hanks would know.
1
Ihavenoideatall Apr 10, 2026 +20
Welcome back to earth!
20
TimeRaveler Apr 10, 2026 +7
I read this in Will Smith’s voice.
7
ToySoldierArt Apr 10, 2026 +5
\*SLAP
5
Space_Dwarf Apr 10, 2026 +3
*Chris Rock: “Wow!”
3
andrewmail Apr 10, 2026 +1
It was more of a punch
1
Specialist-Garbage94 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Open hand get serious.
1
SloppyPlatypus69 Apr 10, 2026 +7
This is a pretty cool [video](https://youtu.be/U88DzZcsubs?t=268) showing the unmanned Artemis 1 going back home and entering the surfaces atmosphere. Basically becomes a fire ball. Super cool. [Here is another one (amazing outside footage) of the SpaceX Starship doing the same.](https://youtu.be/JX1LTw48ymQ?t=193)  This is why a lot of smaller asteroids have a hard time causing a lot of destruction. I watched a video about space junk on the ISS and for some things they'll just send it towards the atmosphere so it gets incinerated. 
7
valeyard89 Apr 11, 2026 +1
The service module gets incinerated
1
PorkProofPrion Apr 10, 2026 +3
Is it viewable from San Diego? \* Not viewable, but may be able to hear the reentry sonic boom
3
OhDamnBroSki Apr 10, 2026 +2
How fast do they hit the water on impact? & do they felt a blunt impact similar to a car crash?
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camander321 Apr 10, 2026 +11
The capsule has a bunch of parachutes and thrusters for slowing down and hitting the water at around 17mph
11
cjsv7657 Apr 10, 2026 +9
Which wont be comfortable but shouldn't be more Gs than their liftoff. Just a bit more sudden
9
kansei7 Apr 10, 2026 +3
no thrusters will be used once the orion capsule detaches from the service module, just physics and the drogue, pilot, and main parachutes to slow it down. They're estimating 3.5-4G on re-entry (they eliminated the skip re-entry and are doing a faster direct entry).
3
is-this-now Apr 10, 2026 +8
It is in the article…
8
eelthing Apr 10, 2026 +1
Wasn't this how Fantastic 4 started? I wonder what super powers these people will get.
1
Chytectonas Apr 10, 2026
Angry, violent monkey should stay earthbound until it annihilates itself, no? Anyone else with me?
0
Eriiiii Apr 10, 2026 -19
hopefully\*
-19
JackalThePowerful Apr 10, 2026 +4
Don’t be like that.
4
Eriiiii Apr 10, 2026 -3
the good news is it has never once happened in the history of space travel
-3
JackalThePowerful Apr 10, 2026 +2
Do you think that people don’t know that space travel is a risky endeavor or something? People do. They also just want to celebrate something cool happening in the midst of so much turmoil, and you’re being gross about it to feel special.
2
KoalaDeluxe Apr 10, 2026 -4
shhhhhh! don't jinx it!
-4
Renverseur Apr 10, 2026 -2
Splaaaaash
-2
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