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Washington DC, April 11, 2026 — The NASA confirmed that all four astronauts of the Artemis II mission have been safely extracted from the Orion spacecraft following their successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
Crew Safely Transferred to USS John P. Murtha
After landing, the astronauts were transported to the USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26). Rescue teams ensured a smooth and secure extraction process.
Soon after, the crew was escorted to the onboard medical bay. There, they began post-mission medical evaluations to assess their health after the long-duration spaceflight.
All four of the Artemis II astronauts have been successfully extracted from the Orion spacecraft following splashdown and are now on the USS John P. Murtha. Next up, they will be escorted to the medical bay where they will undergo post-mission medical evaluations. pic.twitter.com/v96RFKEUNN
— NASA (@NASA) April 11, 2026
Post-Mission Medical Checks Begin
According to NASA, medical assessments are a standard procedure after space missions. These evaluations help monitor the astronauts’ physical condition and recovery after exposure to microgravity and space travel.
Therefore, the crew will remain under observation before returning to normal activities.
ISS Crew Witnesses Reentry
Earlier, astronauts aboard the International Space Station witnessed the dramatic reentry of Artemis II.
NASA astronaut Chris Williams shared that the ISS crew saw a bright trail as the spacecraft’s service module burned up in the atmosphere.
Although the Orion capsule was not directly visible, its glowing trail created a stunning visual in the upper atmosphere.
Fist bump! 👊
— NASA (@NASA) April 10, 2026
The Artemis II crew is now under 35,000 miles from Earth. The astronauts are preparing the spacecraft for reentry and the weather is looking good for splashdown. pic.twitter.com/jYNlo0xoNu
Historic Mission Successfully Completed
The Artemis II mission has already made history as the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. It also marked the safe return of astronauts after traveling farther into space than any humans in decades.
Before reentry, NASA shared updates showing the crew preparing for descent. Weather conditions remained favorable, ensuring a successful splashdown.
The safe extraction and medical evaluation of the Artemis II crew mark the final phase of this historic mission. Furthermore, the success of this operation strengthens NASA’s plans for future lunar and deep-space missions.
Overall, Artemis II represents a major step toward sustained human exploration beyond Earth.
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