NASA's Artemis II mission is set to conclude with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—have spent 10 days aboard Orion, venturing farther from Earth than any humans in half a century.
The astronauts' journey included collecting vital data for future missions to the moon and beyond, testing systems critical for deep-space travel. Despite challenges like a damaged heat shield on Artemis I, NASA remains vigilant as they await a safe return for their crew.
Before returning to Earth, the crew encountered minor mishaps such as toilet issues and software glitches but were able to witness majestic lunar eclipses from a unique vantage point. Wiseman's late wife was even honoured with a new crater named after her.
The splashdown is expected at 8:07 p.m. ET on Friday, marking the successful conclusion of this historic mission. The broadcast will be live on NASA’s website and could offer one of the most thrilling moments in space exploration history.
