One of the most crucial moments; Artemis II astronauts prepare for splashdown

The Artemis II astronauts are gearing up for a crucial phase of their 10-day mission – re-entry and splashdown. After conducting a historic lunar flyby and gathering invaluable data, the crew is set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 5:37 am IST on April 11, 2026.

The astronauts, including Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen, have voyaged further from Earth than any human before, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. Their mission is considered a key stepping stone towards eventual crewed lunar landings.

The astronauts will face intense heat and speeds over 30 times the speed of sound during re-entry. NASA has made adjustments to the re-entry path to minimize risks, and recovery teams are preparing for a safe splashdown.