EverythingScience

The Orion spacecraft’s thrusters ignited for the second return trajectory correction burn to fine‑tune the spacecraft’s path toward Earth. Splashdown of Artemis II is expected around 8:07pm ET on Friday, April 10 (0007 UTC on Saturday, April 11), off the coast of San Diego.

Since the toilet issue is affecting the Artemis II mission, a lot of people is asking "where it is?". I've just updated my artwork to answer such question. Spot the WMS (Waste Management System) position inside Orion.

Charlie Crockett's "Lonesome Drifter" marks the beginning of flight day 9 for the Artemis II astronauts. Enjoy the Moon tunes on our Wake-Up Songs Spotify playlist: open.spotify.com/user/nasaspoti…

NASA Artemis is pushing the boundaries of space exploration - and our scientists are already preparing for what’s next. Future lunar relay systems will enable continuous communication with missions on the far side of the Moon, a critical step for sustained exploration. Learn how public-private partnerships are making this possible: go.nasa.gov/4t3cbxr

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen spoke with media to discuss their mission so far. The conversation took place on Wednesday, April 8, with the Artemis II crew aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft making their way back to Earth. NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35p.m. EDT on April 1, sending the four astronauts on a planned 10-day test flight around the Moon and back.

Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch is seen through a window of the Orion spacecraft while on her way to the Moon. This selfie-style photo was taken using a camera on the end of one of Orion's solar array wings on flight day 4 of the approximately 10-day test flight, when Orion was more than halfway to the Moon. Koch is holding "Rise", the zero gravity indicator that launched with the crew after being selected from more than 2,600 original designs that were submitted from countries around the world. A zero gravity indicator is a small plush item that typically rides with a crew to visually indicate when they are in space. “Rise” was inspired by the iconic Earthrise moment from the Apollo 8 mission. Source: NASA

Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch (center) and Commander Reid Wiseman (top) are seen through windows of the Orion spacecraft while on their way to the Moon. This selfie-style photo was taken using a camera on the end of one of Orion's solar array wings on flight day 4 of the approximately 10-day test flight, when Orion was more than halfway to the Moon. Source: NASA

Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen is seen through a window of the Orion spacecraft while on his way to the Moon. This selfie-style photo was taken using a camera on the end of one of Orion's solar array wings on flight day 4 of the approximately 10-day test flight, when Orion was more than halfway to the Moon. Source: NASA

As the Artemis II crew flew over the terminator, the astronauts described this boundary between day and night as "anything but a straight line." Crater rims along the terminator stand out as "islands" in the night. Giant chains of craters emanating from the 3.7-billion-year-old Orientale basin can be seen scouring the surface, stretching almost to the terminator. This tells a geologic story: these crater chains produced by the Orientale impact event mar the surface of the relatively flat Hertzsprung Basin (center of this image), which means that Hertzsprung Basin must be even older than Orientale!

A view from the window of the Orion spacecraft approximately 9 minutes before Earthset during the Artemis II lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. Source: NASA

The Moon seen peeking above the window sill of the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. The Artemis II crew spent about 7 hours at the Orion windows during the flyby, taking photos and recording observations on the Moon to share with scientists on the ground. Source: NASA

A shot from early in the Artemis II lunar flyby, taken with a smaller aperture setting, shows a moodier version of the Moon than some of the other flyby images with more typical lighting settings. The four crew members spent about 7 hours photographing and recording observations of the Moon as they flew around the far side on April 6, 2026. Source: NASA

The small, bright spot in the center of the image is the crater that the Artemis II crew have proposed as Carroll, after Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife. About 3.5 miles across (5.6 km in diameter), the proposed Carroll crater is on the nearside of the lunar surface on the western edge and would be visible from Earth with powerful telescopes. 

The Artemis II crew – (clockwise from left) Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover – take time out for a group hug inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home. Following a swing around the far side of the Moon on April 6, 2026, the crew exited the lunar sphere of influence (the point at which the Moon's gravity has a stronger pull on Orion than the Earth's) on April 7, and are headed back to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. The crew was selected in April 2023, and have been training together for their mission for the past three years. Source: NASA

The Artemis II crew – (from left) Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Pilot Victor Glover, and Commander Reid Wiseman – pause for a group photo inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home. Following a swing around the far side of the Moon on April 6, 2026, the crew exited the lunar sphere of influence (the point at which the Moon's gravity has a stronger pull on Orion than the Earth's) on April 7, and are headed back to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. Source: NASA

The Artemis II crew – (clockwise from left) Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover – pause for a group photo with their zero gravity indicator "Rise," inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home. Following a swing around the far side of the Moon on April 6, 2026, the crew exited the lunar sphere of influence (the point at which the Moon's gravity has a stronger pull on Orion than the Earth's) on April 7, and are headed back to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. Source: NASA

NASA’s Orion spacecraft pictured from one of the cameras mounted on its solar array wings. The service module is prominently featured in this image showing a portion of the orbital maneuvering system engine and three of eight auxiliary thrusters. Also pictured is one of the four solar array wings. Each of Orion’s four solar array wings are made of three panels that provide enough electricity to power two three-bedroom homes.  Source: NASA

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is pictured here from one of the cameras mounted on its solar array wings. At the time this photo was taken at 8:58 a.m. ET, the Artemis II crew was in a sleep period ahead of beginning their seventh day into the mission.  Source: NASA

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is pictured here from one of the cameras mounted on its solar array wings. At the time this photo was taken at 9:03 a.m. ET, the Artemis II crew was in a sleep period ahead of beginning their seventh day into the mission. Source: NASA

Hertzsprung Basin comes into view with its distinctive two concentric rings of mountains, revealing the scale of this ancient impact structure. Near the lower left, Vavilov crater—identified by its central peak—stands out, a feature often described by the Artemis II crew during their lunar flyby. Source: NASA

The Artemis II crew captured a close-up snapshot of the near side of the Moon as NASA’s Orion spacecraft approached for the lunar flyby. The near side, characterized by the dark patches of ancient lava, is visible on the top third of the lunar disk. Aristarchus crater is the bright white dot in the midst of a dark grey lava flow at the top of the image. Source: NASA

This view of the southwest portion of Orientale Basin highlights its prominent annular ring—a sweeping arc of mountainous terrain formed by the immense energy of an ancient impact. The ring structure rises above the surrounding surface, tracing the basin’s outer boundary and revealing the layered, multi-ring nature of one of the Moon’s most well-preserved impact features. Apollo-era observers nicknamed this formation “the kiss,” reflecting its distinctive, curved shape. Source: NASA

This is so so cool. I was so excited when the payload manifest was announced. The Artemis II crew have just showcased the Apollo 18 flag - THIS VERY FLAG would have been planted on the lunar surface, had it gone ahead. Of course, Apollos 18 & beyond were cancelled - but this flag finally got its rightful trip to the Moon.

‍LIVE: Artemis II astronauts answer media questions as they continue their journey toward Earth following their record-breaking lunar flyby. 🌐 Live stream

The engines on the Orion spacecraft’s service module are prominently featured in this image from flight day six of the Artemis II mission. Taken from a camera mounted on a solar array wing, the largest is the orbital maneuvering system engine, surrounded by eight smaller auxiliary thrusters.

On the first shift during the lunar flyby observation period, the Artemis II crew captured more than two-thirds of the Moon showcasing the intricate features of the nearside. The 600-mile-wide impact crater, Orientale basin, lies along the transition between the near and far sides and is sometimes partly visible from Earth. The round black spot northeast of Orientale is Grimaldi crater, known for its exceptionally dark mare lava floor and heavily degraded rim.  Source: NASA

The lower half of the Moon hangs suspended in time in this photograph from the Artemis II crew during the lunar flyby observation period. In the upper center of the photo, the Orientale basin is the prominent feature, with a black patch of ancient lava in the center that punched through the Moon’s crust in an eruption billions of years ago. Source: NASA

In this view of the Moon, the Artemis II crew captured an intricate snapshot of the rings of the Orientale basin, one of the Moon’s youngest and best-preserved large impact craters on his first shift during the lunar flyby observation period. Source: NASA