'Welcome home, Artemis': Crew celebrates historic 10-day moon mission

After their historic lunar flyby, the crew safely splashed down in the Pacific.

Last Updated: April 11, 2026, 5:12 PM EDT

NASA's Artemis II mission lifted off on April 1 at 6:35 p.m. ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The four-person crew completed a 695,081-mile, 10-day journey around the moon, also known as a lunar fly-by.

A "textbook" splashdown took place at 8:07 p.m. ET on Friday, April 10.

Apr 02, 2026, 8:14 PM EDT

'Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of,' astronaut says

Speaking to Mission Control after the successful translunar injection burn, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared a message of gratitude, saying, "We firmly felt the power of your perseverance during every second of that burn."

The Orion spacecraft begins its journey away from Earth and towards the Moon following the completed Translunar injection burn, April 2, 2026.
NASA

"With that successful TLI, crew’s feeling pretty good up here on our way to the moon, and we just wanted to communicate to everyone around the planet who’s worked to make Artemis possible that we firmly felt the power of your perseverance during every second of that burn."

"Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of, and it’s your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the moon," he added.

Apr 02, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Translunar injection burn successfully completed

The translunar injection burn has been completed successfully. The Artemis II crew is on its way to the moon.

The crew received two caution indicators on their screen but determined it required no action and proceeded with the burn.

A visualization of the Orion spacecraft in space.
NASA

The burn occurred on time at the one day, one hour and 14-minute mark for the mission, according to Mission Control.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was in Mission Control during the TLI burn.

Apr 02, 2026, 7:54 PM EDT

Translunar injection burn is underway

The translunar injection burn is underway. The Orion spacecraft is now committed to its journey to the moon.

Apr 02, 2026, 7:33 PM EDT

Houston is a 'go' for crucial translunar injection burn

Mission Control in Houston has given the final “go” for the translunar injection burn. The Artemis II crew said they are a “go” for the burn.

Mission Control told the astronauts, “When the engine ignites, you embark on humanity’s lunar homecoming arc and set the course to return Integrity and her crew safely home. Houston is go for TLS.”

Astronaut Christina Koch replied, “Crew is go for TLI. With this burn to the moon, we do not leave Earth, we choose it."

-ABC News' Matthew Glasser

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