NASA's Orion spacecraft on the Artemis II mission has safely returned to Earth, successfully splash-landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, concluding its far-side Moon exploration mission.
On 11 April 2026, NASA's Orion spacecraft on the Artemis 2 mission successfully splash-landed in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, concluding its round-trip journey to the Moon covering over 1,117,659 kilometers.
Reports state that Orion, supported by inflatable safety airbags, impacted the water surface at about 32 kilometers per hour. Though this speed seems moderate, the impact was intense due to water's resistance, similar to hitting a hard surface, before the spacecraft floated and rocked with the ocean waves. The orange airbags around the base activated automatically, helping keep the capsule upright and stable in the water.
After splashdown, the U.S. Navy rescue team immediately took position, deploying both inflatable boats and helicopters. The recovery operation followed strict safety protocols because the spacecraft still retained heat from re-entry into the atmosphere.
Divers inspected weather and water conditions around the capsule before opening the hatch to safely extract the crew, proceeding without haste during this phase.
Inside the spacecraft, the four astronauts, who had spent 10 days in microgravity, were readjusting to the ocean's motion after completing their historic lunar orbit mission.
Source: BBC