Artemis II Crew Returns After Breaking 56-Year Moon Record

For the first time in 53 years, humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit and returned home safely with stories to tell.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026, after a groundbreaking 10-day journey around the Moon. The crew traveled 252,756 miles from Earth at their farthest point, breaking the distance record set by Apollo 13 astronauts in 1970.

The mission marked a major milestone in humanity's return to deep space exploration. Launching from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, the crew aboard their Orion spacecraft named "Integrity" completed the first crewed test of NASA's new moon-bound systems in more than five decades.

During their journey, the astronauts weren't just sightseeing. They tested life support systems that will keep future crews alive in deep space, manually piloted Orion to validate its handling for future missions, and ran experiments studying how human tissue responds to deep space radiation. These tests provide critical data for building a permanent lunar base and eventually sending humans to Mars.

The crew captured over 7,000 images during their lunar flyby on April 6, including stunning views of earthrise, ancient lava flows, and even a solar eclipse visible only from their unique vantage point. They flew within 4,067 miles of the lunar surface before looping back toward home, traveling 694,481 total miles.

The Ripple Effect

This mission represents the combined effort of 14 countries and thousands of engineers, scientists, and support teams who trusted their work to protect four lives traveling at 25,000 miles per hour. The successful splashdown proved that the spacecraft, rocket, and international partnership are ready for the next phase: landing astronauts on the Moon's surface for the first time since 1972.

Victor Glover became the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit. Christina Koch added to her record as the woman who has traveled farthest from Earth. Jeremy Hansen became the first Canadian to journey to the Moon. Together, they validated every system needed to establish a lasting human presence on another world.

NASA's focus now shifts to Artemis III, the mission that will put boots back on the lunar surface and begin construction of a permanent Moon base.

Fifty-three years ago, we left the Moon behind, but this time we're going back to stay.