Artemis II Breaks Apollo 13 Distance Record | Homebound Journey Update
Artemis II Update: "Under Pressure" and Homeward Bound.
After traveling further from Earth than any humans in history, the Artemis II crew prepares for splashdown. Get the latest on radiation tests, manual piloting, and the homeward leg.
The four astronauts of NASA’s historic Artemis II mission have officially entered the "home stretch" of their 10-day journey. Following a record-breaking loop around the far side of the Moon, the crew began Flight Day 8 yesterday with a high-energy wake-up call and a shift in focus from lunar exploration to the critical procedures required for a safe return to Earth.
A Musical Start to the Return Leg
At 11:35 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Mission Control in Houston jolted the crew awake with the iconic bassline of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie. The choice was a fitting nod to the intense physics of the upcoming reentry, but it was followed by a heartwarming moment: a personalized message from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
A crowd of CSA employees beamed up a "Good morning" shout-out to the crew, specifically cheering on Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to travel to the deep-space lunar environment.
Leaving the Moon Behind
The crew-Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen-is now traveling at over 1,700 miles per hour.
Earlier this week, on Flight Day 6 (Monday, April 6), the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, completed its closest approach, passing just 4,070 miles above the lunar surface. During this flyby, the crew:
Flight Day 8: Radiation Tests and Manual Flight
While Flight Day 7 was largely a day of rest, Day 8 was a "work day" focused on spacecraft health. The crew spent several hours conducting a radiation-shielding experiment, demonstrating how to construct a makeshift "shelter" inside Orion using stowage bags and water containers to protect against solar flares.
Later in the day, Pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman performed manual piloting tests. These drills ensure that if Orion’s automated systems were to fail, the crew can manually orient the capsule for its high-speed atmospheric entry.
The Final Descent
As of today, Thursday, April 9, the Earth is growing rapidly in Orion's windows. The mission is on track for a splashdown on Friday, April 10, at approximately 8:07 p.m. ET (Saturday, April 11, 5:37 a.m. IST).
The capsule will hit the atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour, enduring temperatures of 5,000°F before deploying its parachute system for a landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. This mission serves as the final test flight before Artemis III, which aims to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface.
Quick Fact: During their lunar pass, the crew reported seeing six meteoroid impact flashes on the darkened lunar surface-a rare scientific observation from a human-crewed vessel.
The four astronauts of NASA’s historic Artemis II mission have officially entered the "home stretch" of their 10-day journey. Following a record-breaking loop around the far side of the Moon, the crew began Flight Day 8 yesterday with a high-energy wake-up call and a shift in focus from lunar exploration to the critical procedures required for a safe return to Earth.
A Musical Start to the Return Leg
At 11:35 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Mission Control in Houston jolted the crew awake with the iconic bassline of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie. The choice was a fitting nod to the intense physics of the upcoming reentry, but it was followed by a heartwarming moment: a personalized message from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
A crowd of CSA employees beamed up a "Good morning" shout-out to the crew, specifically cheering on Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to travel to the deep-space lunar environment.
Leaving the Moon Behind
The crew-Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen-is now traveling at over 1,700 miles per hour.
Earlier this week, on Flight Day 6 (Monday, April 6), the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, completed its closest approach, passing just 4,070 miles above the lunar surface. During this flyby, the crew:
- Became the first humans to see the lunar far side in over 50 years.
- Broke the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 mark of 248,655 miles.
- Captured breathtaking images of a "crescent Earthrise" and even witnessed a rare solar eclipse from space as the Moon blocked the Sun from their vantage point.
Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon.
While Flight Day 7 was largely a day of rest, Day 8 was a "work day" focused on spacecraft health. The crew spent several hours conducting a radiation-shielding experiment, demonstrating how to construct a makeshift "shelter" inside Orion using stowage bags and water containers to protect against solar flares.
Later in the day, Pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman performed manual piloting tests. These drills ensure that if Orion’s automated systems were to fail, the crew can manually orient the capsule for its high-speed atmospheric entry.
The Final Descent
As of today, Thursday, April 9, the Earth is growing rapidly in Orion's windows. The mission is on track for a splashdown on Friday, April 10, at approximately 8:07 p.m. ET (Saturday, April 11, 5:37 a.m. IST).
The capsule will hit the atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour, enduring temperatures of 5,000°F before deploying its parachute system for a landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. This mission serves as the final test flight before Artemis III, which aims to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface.
Quick Fact: During their lunar pass, the crew reported seeing six meteoroid impact flashes on the darkened lunar surface-a rare scientific observation from a human-crewed vessel.
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