Artemis II astronauts return to EarthHandout photo shows NASA’s Orion spacecraft carrying the Artemis II crew splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California on April 10, 2026. But the Artemis II re-entry was smooth sailing. The four astronauts become the humans to travel furthest away from the Earth, at 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers). China, meanwhile, is forging ahead with its own effort, targeting 2030 to put astronauts on the Moon. In the meantime, NASA is hoping to capitalize on the Artemis II mission’s success to drum up excitement about space exploration.

Source: Philippine Star April 11, 2026 16:01 UTC