When is the Artemis II splashdown in California? See time, location

April 09, 2026 Neo
When is the Artemis II splashdown in California? See time, location

The Artemis II astronautsare on their way home and preparing for a water landing off the coast of California, leaving the moon in the rearview mirror after becoming thefirst humans in more than 50 yearsto travel near Earth's celestial neighbor.

USA TODAY

The most important leg ofthe historic moon missionis complete afterthe four astronautsspent hours Monday, April 6, making observations of the moon's far side, which is permanently faced away from Earth. The close approach, known asa lunar flyby, was a trailblazing moment inspaceflight, taking astronautsReid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover of NASA, as well as Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, thefarthest any human has been from Earth.

<p style=This handout image released by NASA shows a fully illuminated Moon, with the near side at top, dark lava plains, and the Orientale basin, with parts of the far side visible, on April 6, 2026. The four astronauts embarking on NASA's lunar flyby became on April 6 the humans to travel furthest from our planet, as they get set to view areas of the Moon never before seen by the naked eye. The Artemis II team broke the previous record set by 1970's Apollo 13 mission, which they are expected to surpass by approximately 4,105 miles (6,606 kilometers) when they reach this journey's anticipated furthest distance from Earth -- 252,760 miles -- later today.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> This screengrab from a NASA livestream shows Artemis II crew members Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch wiping their tears after naming a lunar crater This handout image released by NASA shows Artemis II mission specialist and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen shaving inside the Orion spacecraft during Flight Day 5 and ahead of the crew's lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on April 6, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon's gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's. The Orion capsule will now whip around the Moon, setting the crew up to travel farther from our home planet than any human before. This screengrab from a NASA livestream shows the Orion spacecraft approaching the Moon on April 6, 2026. The four astronauts embarking on NASA's lunar flyby became on April 6 the humans to travel furthest from our planet, as they get set to view areas of the Moon never before seen by the naked eye. The Artemis II team broke the previous record set by 1970's Apollo 13 mission, which they are expected to surpass by approximately 4,105 miles (6,606 kilometers) when they reach this journey's anticipated furthest distance from Earth -- 252,760 miles (406,778 kilometers) -- later today. Artemis II flight controllers monitor the Orion spacecraft from the White Flight Control Room at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on April 6, 2026. The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on Monday, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon's gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's. The Orion capsule will now whip around the Moon, setting the crew up to travel farther from our home planet than any human before. This handout picture by an Artemis II crew member provided by NASA shows the moon through a window of the Orion spacecraft on April 6, 2026. The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on Monday, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon's gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's. The Orion capsule will now whip around the Moon, setting the crew up to travel farther from our home planet than any human before. This handout image released by NASA shows Artemis II pilot and NASA astronaut Victor Glover peering out one of the Orion spacecraft's windows looking back at Earth ahead of the crew's lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on April 6, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon's gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's. The Orion capsule will now whip around the Moon, setting the crew up to travel farther from our home planet than any human before. This handout image released by NASA shows a fully illuminated view of the Moon, including the Orientale basin and parts of the far side not visible from Earth, on April 6, 2026. The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on April 6, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon's gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's. The Orion capsule will now whip around the Moon, setting the crew up to travel farther from our home planet than any human before. NASA staff pose for a group photo in the White Flight Control Room at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on April 6, 2026. The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on Monday, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon's gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's. The Orion capsule will now whip around the Moon, setting the crew up to travel farther from our home planet than any human before.

A look at Artemis around the far side of the moon

This handout image released byNASAshows a fully illuminated Moon, with the near side at top, dark lava plains, and the Orientale basin, with parts of the far side visible, on April 6, 2026. The four astronauts embarking on NASA's lunar flyby became on April 6 the humans to travel furthest from our planet, as they get set to view areas of the Moon never before seen by the naked eye. The Artemis II team broke the previous record set by 1970's Apollo 13 mission, which they are expected to surpass by approximately 4,105 miles (6,606 kilometers) when they reach this journey's anticipated furthest distance from Earth -- 252,760 miles -- later today.

In the days ahead, the crew members aboard NASA's Orion capsule will now make the trek back home and prepare for a splashdown off the California coast.

Want to follow along with the rest of the test flight, which will pave the way for a possible2028 moon landing?

Here's what to know about the Artemis II splashdown, as well as how you can use NASA's official tracker to keep up with their journey.

Artemis II:Why are we going back to the moon? NASA Artemis campaign targets Mars

Where is the Artemis II splashdown in California?

The astronauts are now making a four-day journey back to Earth, using our planet's gravity to naturally "slingshot," orpull Orion back home, negating the need for propulsion or much fuel.

Once Orion blazes through Earth's atmosphere, a protective heat shield will be cast off to make way for parachutes to deploy and slow the vehicle down.

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Artemis II crew members Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover answer questions from reporters during the first downlink event of their mission. Earth’s crescent is seen from a solar array camera on the Orion spacecraft on the first flight day of the Artemis II mission. A view of the Earth from NASA’s Orion spacecraft as it orbits above the planet during the Artemis II test flight. In an image posted by NASA on April 3, 2026, shows a full disk image of Earth, as seen from the Orion capsule. The planet is pale blue, swirling with white clouds and glowing slightly lighter blue in places from reflected light. From the lower left, a large brown landmass is Africa, with the Iberian peninsula twinkling with lights just where the planet curves. In the upper right, aurora glow in a thin green glow, just barely separated from the planet’s surface. Earth is set against the black of space. In an image posted by NASA on April 3, 2026, One-third of Earth is seen through the Orion capsule window as the NASA Artemis II mission continues towards the moon. Although Earth only fills a fraction of the image it is the brightest object in the image. The capsule window is surrounded by a thick frame held in place with bolts. It is dark in the capsule, but the outlines of straps and various components of the capsule are visible. This screen grab from NASA's feed released on April 3, 2026, shows the four Artemis II crew members (L-R) Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist and Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot as they head to orbit the Moon for the first time in more than half a century. This screen grab from NASA's feed released on April 3, 2026, shows the four Artemis II crew members (L-R) Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist (hidden), NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist and Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot as they head to orbit the Moon for the first time in more than half a century.

See photos from space during NASA's Artemis II mission so far

The capsule will then make a water landing likely Friday, April 10, in the Pacific Ocean near California off the coast of San Diego, after which five orange airbags will inflate around the top of the spacecraft and flip the capsule into an upright position. After the landing, the crew would exit the vehicle onto a U.S. Navyrecovery vesselwithin about two hours.

When is the Artemis II splashdown in California?

The Artemis II astronauts' Orion is scheduled to splash down at about 5:07 p.m. PT on Friday, April 10.

<p style=Artemis II and it’s crew of four lift off from Kennedy Space Center April 1, 2026 on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The solid rocket boosters (SRBs) detach after NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. The Artemis II crewed lunar mission launches at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket April 1 on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. View from Port Orange, Fla. as Artemis II lifts off and heads to the moon, April 1, 2026 . The Artemis II crewed lunar mission launches at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Artemis II is a 10-day flight with four astronauts on a loop around the Moon, marking the first time humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the NASA's Artemis II launches from Kennedy Space Center in Florida prior to the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. People watch the Artemis II crewed lunar mission launch on a television outside of the News Corp building on April 1, 2026 in New York City. The 10-day mission will take NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back. The astronauts are supposed to fly 230,000 miles out into space, the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. Artemis II and it’s crew of four lift off from Kennedy Space Center April 1, 2026 on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. People observe the launch of Artemis II from the A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, Florida on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The 322-foot-tall rocket will take astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. Artemis II and it’s crew of four lift off from Kennedy Space Center April 1, 2026 on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK People observe and celebrate the launch of the Artemis II from the A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, Florida on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 322-foot-tall rocket will take astronauts around the moon and back, 230,000 miles out into space and the farthest any human has ever traveled from Earth. The Artemis II astronauts leave crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center, FL April 1, 2026 headed to Pad 39B for launch on an 10-day rendezvous with the Moon. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen talks with family as the crew leaves crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center, FL April 1, 2026. They’re headed to Pad 39B for launch on an 10-day rendezvous with the Moon. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The Artemis II astronauts leave crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center, FL April 1, 2026 headed to Pad 39B for launch on an 10-day rendezvous with the Moon. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover blows kisses to his family as the crew leaves crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center, FL April 1, 2026. They’re headed to Pad 39B for launch on an 10-day rendezvous with the Moon. The Artemis II astronauts (from left) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch leave crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center, FL April 1, 2026 headed to Pad 39B for launch on an 10-day rendezvous with the Moon. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman sends a heart of loved ones as the crew leaves crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center, FL April 1, 2026. They’re headed to Pad 39B for launch on an 10-day rendezvous with the Moon. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch laughs as the crew leaves crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center, FL April 1, 2026. They’re headed to Pad 39B for launch on an 10-day rendezvous with the Moon. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Photographers set up remote cameras inside Pad 39B March 31, 2026 in advance of the launch of Artemis II. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Remote camerasa are set up inside Pad 39B March 31, 2026 in advance of the launch of Artemis II. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK NASAÕs Space Launch System rocket Artemis II is readied for launch on Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, FL, March 31, 2026. Artemis II is scheduled to launch April 4, taking 4 astronauts around the Moon and back. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Photographers set up remote cameras inside Pad 39B March 31, 2026 in advance of the launch of Artemis II. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Photographers set up remote cameras inside Pad 39B March 31, 2026 in advance of the launch of Artemis II. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Photographers set up remote cameras inside Pad 39B March 31, 2026 in advance of the launch of Artemis II. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK <p style=People set cameras to photograph NASA's Artemis II lunar flyby mission, with the next-generation moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew capsule, on Pad 39B ahead of the launch of the Artemis II mission at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., March 31, 2026. The rocket is scheduled for an April 1, 2026, 6:24 p.m. launch of the 10-day mission.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> This NASA handout image shows NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander (L), Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot (2L), Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist (2R), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist (R), as they pose for a group photo during a visit to NASA's Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, on March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. <p style=The countdown clock runs as NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft sit on Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Photographers set up remote cameras inside Pad 39B March 31, 2026 in advance of the launch of Artemis II.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> People gather ahead of the launch of the next-generation moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew capsule, part of NASA's Artemis II lunar flyby mission, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Titusville, Fla., April 1, 2026. Space enthusiasts watch the sunrise from a park in Titusville, Fla. several hours before NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026. Space enthusiasts watch the sunrise from a park in Titusville, Florida several hours before NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026. NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft sit on Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on March 31, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Brenda Mulberry, president of Pike Products and Space Shirts, holds up one of the thousands of Artemis II t-shirts she has printed in their north Merritt Island shop. <p style=The Highland Mint in Melbourne, Fla. has minted an Artemis II collector coin.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft rest on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 31, 2026, ahead of the crewed lunar mission.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See the moment Artemis II lifts off for historic moon mission

Artemis IIand it’s crew of four lift off from Kennedy Space Center April 1, 2026 on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

"Following splashdown, recovery teams will retrieve the crew members using helicopters and deliver them to the USS John P. Murtha. Once aboard, the astronauts will undergo post-flight medical evaluations in the ship’s medical bay before traveling back to shore to meet with an aircraft bound for NASA Johnson (Space Center)," a NASA press release said.

Artemis II tracker: Follow moon mission location

This screengrab shows NASA's virtual tracker with the updated status of the Orion spacecraft the Artemis II astronauts are aboard for a mission around the moon and back.

Want to follow the astronauts along the Artemis II lunar journey? NASAhas an Artemis II trackeravailableonlineand on itsmobile appthat allows users to see where Orion is, how fast it's traveling and how far the spacecraft is from both the Earth and the moon.

The mobile version for smartphones even includes an augmented reality feature that allows users to move their phones to see where Orion is relative to Earth.

The tracker, officially referred to as the "Artemis Real-time Orbit Website" (AROW), uses data collected in real time by sensors on the Orion spacecraft sent to the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. That information will be constantly updated beginning about one minute after liftoff until Orion begins its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere about 10 days later.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Artemis II splashdown time, location for San Diego landing

 

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