The four astronauts of Nasa's Artemis II mission have been safely recovered after a 'textbook splashdown' in the Pacific Ocean at 5.07pm PT, concluding a 10-day journey to fly around the moon. All crew members emerged from the Orion capsule and are reported to be in good health.
Commander Reid Wiseman was the last to appear, telling mission control that he and his three colleagues were feeling fine as they breathed fresh air for the first time since their launch on 1 April. The crew – Nasa astronauts Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency – became the first humans to travel to the moon and return safely since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The mission tested space hardware and life support systems critical to Nasa's plans for a lunar landing in 2028 and a moon base by the end of the decade. Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman called the astronauts 'almost poets' and 'ambassadors for humanity'. US President Donald Trump posted that he could not be more proud of the crew, despite his desire to cut Nasa's budget by more than 23 per cent.
Nasa's associate administrator Amit Kshatriya praised thousands of workers and partners, saying 'the vehicle spoke for all of them'. He added: '53 years ago, humanity left the moon. This time we return to stay.' Sean Quinn, Nasa's exploration ground systems manager, took a call from Wiseman who confirmed all crew were safe, saying 'we accomplished what we set out to do.'
The astronauts were winched aboard the USS John P Murtha, where a navy helicopter transferred them for medical checks. Glover was seen joking with sailors, and Isaacman greeted each crew member with a hug. The recovery marks the successful end of a pivotal mission for Nasa's lunar ambitions.
