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A boy stands up with his arms aloft and cheers as people around him celebrate, with one person lifting a US flag

Artemis II splashdown – in pictures

This article is more than 1 month old

The world watches on as astronauts on the 10-day Artemis II mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off California on Friday

A boy celebrates the return of the Artemis II crew members to Earth at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Photograph: Apu Gomes/AFP/Getty Images
Fri 10 Apr 2026 22.46 EDTLast modified on Sat 11 Apr 2026 12.15 EDT
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Hundreds of people sat at the Space Museum watching the splashdown
Crowds gather at the Air and Space Museum in San Diego, CaliforniaPhotograph: Sandy Huffaker/Reuters
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Capsule and service module above the Earth
The Artemis II Orion capsule separates from the service module above the Earth in preparation for splashdown in the Pacific OceanPhotograph: Nasa/AP
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A child wearing a spacesuit sits on a bench while looking at a screen
Children watch the splashdown at the Air and Space Museum in San Diego, California Photograph: Sandy Huffaker/Reuters
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The four sit in a line
International Space Station crew members Chris Williams, Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, along with European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, try to view the Artemis II crew’s re-entry to Earth, from the cupola on the ISSPhotograph: Jessica Meir/X/Reuters
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A man holds his hands together as if praying as he watches events
A man reacts emotionally as he watches the splashdown at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TexasPhotograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images
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A man points to the sky as people look to the right
People look on during a watch party for the return of Nasa’s Artemis II in Coronado, CaliforniaPhotograph: Gregory Bull/AP
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Crowds watch the splash down cupping their hands looking nervous and excited
Crowds at the Air and Space Museum in San Diego, California watch the splashdownPhotograph: Sandy Huffaker/Reuters
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A crowd of people on a beach
People wait for a glimpse of the return of Nasa’s Artemis II along the beach in Coronado, CaliforniaPhotograph: Gregory Bull/AP
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The spacecraft about to hit the water in the distance with red and white parachutes hanging in the air
The Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crew members aboard approaches the surface of the Pacific Ocean for splashdown off the coast of CaliforniaPhotograph: Bill Ingalls/Nasa/AP
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Crowds cheering and filming the occasion
Crowds celebrating the splashdown at the Air and Space MuseumPhotograph: Sandy Huffaker/Reuters
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People cheer while watching a live broadcast of the mission’s successful splashdown
People watch a live broadcast of the successful splashdown during a watch party at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, CaliforniaPhotograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images
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The capsule making contact with the ocean
The Artemis II crew capsule splashes down in the Pacific OceanPhotograph: NASA/Reuters
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A view of the outfield video board in the stadium
A view of the outfield video board showing the Artemis II splashdown, during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball ParkPhotograph: Aaron Doster/Reuters Connect
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The boy hold up his arms as he cheers
A young boy wearing an astronaut costume celebrates as he watches a live broadcast of the return of the Artemis II crew members to Earth at the San Diego Air and Space MuseumPhotograph: Apu Gomes/AFP/Getty Images
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The capsule making contact with the ocean
The Orion spacecraft lands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of CaliforniaPhotograph: Bill Ingalls/Nasa/Shutterstock
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With the capsule landed, a helicopter flies overhead to pick up the astronauts
A Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopter flies overhead as small boats approach the Orion spacecraftPhotograph: Joel Kowsky/Nasa/Shutterstock
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Small boats approach the floating capsule to pick up the astronauts
Recovery teams prepare to transfer the Artemis II crew members from the inflatable front porch to USS John P Murtha in the Pacific OceanPhotograph: Joel Kowsky/Nasa/EPA
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Helicopter hovers above the orange life raft with a crew member attached below
An Artemis II crew member is hoisted into a US Navy MH-60 helicopter after successfully splashing down in the Pacific OceanPhotograph: James Blair/Nasa/AFP/Getty Images
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A smiling Glover and Koch
Astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch sit in a Navy MH-60 Seahawk on the flight deck of USS John P Murtha after they were extracted from their Orion spacecraft after splashdownPhotograph: Bill Ingalls/Nasa/AP
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Astronauts Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen smile to the camera while sat down
Astronauts Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen react while sitting on a Navy MH-60 Seahawk on the flight deck of USS John P MurthaPhotograph: Bill Ingalls/Nasa/Reuters
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Reid Wiseman cheers as he is taken by assisting teams
Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P MurthaPhotograph: Bill Ingalls/Nasa/AP
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Astronaut Victor Glover holds his hands aloft
Artemis II pilot Victor Glover reacts onboard USS John P MurthaPhotograph: Bill Ingalls/Nasa/Getty Images
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US Navy and NASA personnel watch the spacecraft in the well deck of USS John P Murtha
US Navy and Nasa personnel work to recover the spacecraft into the well deck of USS John P Murtha in the Pacific OceanPhotograph: Joel Kowsky/Nasa/AFP/Getty Images
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Christina Koch smiles as she is guided by assistance teams
Christina Koch, Artemis II’s mission specialist, is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P MurthaPhotograph: Bill Ingalls/Nasa/Shutterstock
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