{"id":801615,"date":"2026-04-10T18:35:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T23:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=801615"},"modified":"2026-04-10T18:35:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T23:35:29","slug":"artemis-ii-astronauts-return-to-earth-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=801615","title":{"rendered":"Artemis II astronauts return to Earth : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<p>\n            <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NASA\u2019s Artemis II Crew Comes Home (Official Broadcast)\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nfhDuOHMp0A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n   <\/p>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5781327-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP STATICHTML\" --><\/p>\n<p>After a nearly 10-day journey that took the Artemis II astronauts around the moon, in front of an eclipse and farther away from Earth than any humans before them, the NASA mission is about to make a dramatic return home.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-117104\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 1920;&#10;        --source-height: 1280;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fde%2F177255ef4063930d1f8497e784fa%2Fastronauts.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                The Artemis II astronauts share a group hug aboard the Orion capsule.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5781327-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1440x1440+240+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2Fe3%2F269b58e44b0cb345f863e70fefdd%2Fart002e008486-large.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"An astronaut's face is seen in silhouette, looking at Earth through Orion's main cabin windows, as the crew travels towards the moon. \" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5781327-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>The crew&#8217;s Orion space capsule is set to enter the atmosphere at 7:53 p.m. ET and splash down less than a quarter-hour later, at 8:07 p.m., off the coast of San Diego.<\/p>\n<p>In that short time, the space capsule will have to slow down from nearly 25,000 miles per hour \u2014 or more than 30 times the speed of sound \u2014 to a gentle 20 or so mph before dropping into the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5781327-102\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1280x1280+320+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F44%2F9c754d764d63a84b2be7ff862e1a%2Fart002e013365-large.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"The Artemis II crew \u2014 Christina Koch (left), Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman \u2014 have to share tight quarters aboard the Orion spacecraft on their way home. But even with limited space, they can still get a solid workout in \u2014 thanks to a very special piece of equipment.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5781327-102\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>As it punches though Earth&#8217;s atmosphere, the spacecraft will likely experience temperatures around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n<p>And for about six minutes during reentry, as plasma builds up around the vehicle, the capsule&#8217;s communications will be cut off.<\/p>\n<p>The journey to Earth is like &#8220;riding a fireball through the atmosphere,&#8221; NASA astronaut and Artemis II crew member Victor Glover said before the maneuver.<\/p>\n<p>But, he said, it&#8217;s also a necessary one.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have to get back,&#8221; Glover said. &#8220;There&#8217;s so much data that you&#8217;ve seen already, but all the good stuff is coming back with us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Glover, along with fellow NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, took photos and made observations of the moon as they passed over its surface April 6. The crew will be bringing that data and more back to the team on the ground \u2014 data that may offer crucial insights ahead of the Artemis III mission, set to launch as early as next year. <\/p>\n<p>Nell Greenfieldboyce and Central Florida Public Media&#8217;s Brendan Byrne contributed to this report. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/04\/10\/nx-s1-5781327\/nasa-artemis-ii-return-earth-splashdown-moon?rand=771664\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a nearly 10-day journey that took the Artemis II astronauts around the moon, in front of an eclipse and farther away from Earth than any humans before them, the&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":801616,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-801615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-npr"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/801615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=801615"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/801615\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/801616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=801615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=801615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=801615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}