The wait is over. The four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission have made it home.
Their Orion capsule splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, not far from San Diego. It was a moment of relief and joy for everyone watching. The capsule reentered Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, endured extreme heat, and then slowed down with its parachutes. The landing was smooth.
Shortly after splashdown, recovery teams moved quickly. All four astronauts were taken out of the Orion spacecraft and brought onto the USS John P. Murtha, a naval ship waiting nearby.
From there, they were escorted to the medical bay. Doctors will run post-mission medical checks to make sure the crew is in good health after their long journey around the Moon.
This mission was historic. It marked the first time in more than 50 years that astronauts traveled this far into deep space. And now, they are home.
NASA called the reentry flawless. The crew’s journey around the Moon pushed the limits of human space exploration. But this is not the end. It is just the beginning.
For now, the Artemis 2 astronauts can rest. They are safe, they are back on Earth, and they are being called heroes. Welcome home.