Wednesday · April 8, 2026 · Artemis II — Flight Day 8 of 10 · Headed Home

EXPLORE THE COSMOS

Mission: Day 8 of 10

Record set: 252,756 miles from Earth

Flyby photos: Released & stunning

Splashdown: Friday April 10 · 8:07 PM EDT

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✅ Mission Update — Flight Day 8 — Headed Home

Artemis II Crew Racing Home After Historic Lunar Flyby — First Press Conference From Space Today

After completing humanity's first lunar flyby since Apollo 17, the Artemis II crew exited the Moon's sphere of gravitational influence on April 7 and are now speeding back to Earth under gravitational pull. Today (April 8), the crew conducted key flight tests, held their first press conference from deep space, and NASA released the stunning official lunar flyby photo set including the first human images of the Moon's far side, a solar eclipse from space, and a new "Earthrise." Splashdown is Friday, April 10 at 8:07 PM EDT off San Diego. Orion flight systems are "operating nominally" per NASA. Live splashdown coverage begins 6:30 PM EDT Friday on NASA+, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Discovery+ & Roku.

Apr 1 Launch ✅

Apr 6 Lunar flyby ✅

Apr 6 Distance record ✅

Apr 7 Photos released ✅

Apr 8 Press conf. ✅

Apr 10 Splashdown 🎯

Follow Mission Home on NASA →

TODAY

🌍 Artemis II Flight Day 8 — crew racing home, splashdown Friday April 10 at 8:07 PM EDT off San Diego 📸 NASA releases stunning official lunar flyby photos — far side craters, Earthrise, solar eclipse from space 🎤 Crew holds first-ever press conference from deep space today — "Orion systems operating nominally" 🌑 New crater proposed to be named "Carroll" after Commander Wiseman's late wife; another named "Integrity" 🌌 Artemis II captures Milky Way photo from deep space on April 7 — breathtaking galactic plane image ☢️ Flight Day 8 tests include radiation shielding practice — building in-craft shelter for solar storm scenarios ⚕️ Crew testing orthostatic intolerance garments for re-entry into Earth's gravity on Friday 🚢 USS John P. Murtha has left port and is steaming toward Pacific recovery zone 🌍 Artemis II Flight Day 8 — crew racing home, splashdown Friday April 10 at 8:07 PM EDT off San Diego 📸 NASA releases stunning official lunar flyby photos — far side craters, Earthrise, solar eclipse from space 🎤 Crew holds first-ever press conference from deep space today — "Orion systems operating nominally" 🌑 New crater proposed to be named "Carroll" after Commander Wiseman's late wife; another named "Integrity"

🚀 ARTEMIS II — ORION "INTEGRITY" — RETURNING TO EARTH

Launched April 1 · Lunar flyby completed April 6 · Splashdown April 10 · Pacific Ocean, San Diego

👨‍✈️ Reid Wiseman · Commander

✈️ Victor Glover · Pilot

👩‍🚀 Christina Koch · MS

🇨🇦 Jeremy Hansen · MS

DAY 8

of 10

252,756

Miles record

APR 10

Splashdown

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Top Space & Science News

April 8, 2026

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✅ FLIGHT DAY 8 — RETURNING HOME

Artemis II Crew Races Home After Historic Lunar Flyby — Conducting Final Tests & First Deep-Space Press Conference

The Artemis II crew exited the Moon's sphere of gravitational influence on April 7 and are now under Earth's gravity heading for splashdown Friday. Today the crew held their first press conference from deep space, conducted radiation shielding tests (building an in-craft shelter using onboard equipment), tested orthostatic intolerance garments for re-entry, and completed exercise. "Orion systems are operating nominally, remain healthy, and we are just trekking our way home from the moon," said Orion deputy program manager Debbie Korth. The USS John P. Murtha recovery ship has departed port for the Pacific recovery zone.

NASA · Reuters · Space.com · Apr 8, 2026 | Read Full Story →

📸 PHOTOS RELEASED

NASA Releases Stunning Official Lunar Flyby Photos — Far Side Never Seen, Solar Eclipse & New "Earthrise"

Released April 7–8, the thousands of photos captured during the 7-hour flyby reveal craters, ancient lava flows, surface fractures, and 6 meteoroid impact flashes on the darkened Moon. One image shows the Moon backlit by the Sun during the nearly 54-minute solar eclipse — Saturn and Mars are also visible in the same frame.

NASA · Apr 7–8

🌑 CRATER NAMING

Crew Proposes Naming Moon Craters "Carroll" & "Integrity" — Tributes to Mission & Commander's Late Wife

During the flyby, Jeremy Hansen called out a bright crater straddling the Moon's near/far side boundary: "It's a bright spot on the moon, and we would like to call it Carroll" — a tribute to Commander Wiseman's wife Carroll Taylor Wiseman, who died in 2020. Another crater will be proposed as "Integrity," after their Orion spacecraft.

Yahoo News · Apr 8

🌌 MILKY WAY PHOTO

Artemis II Crew Photographs the Milky Way Galaxy from Deep Space on April 7 — Breathtaking Shot

On their way home, the crew captured a 10-second exposure of the Milky Way's glowing galactic plane — the Large Magellanic Cloud is visible as a hazy patch, and star clusters thread through the dusty filaments. The slight blur reveals the spacecraft's subtle motion.

Space.com · Apr 8

🗣️ CREW REACTION

Koch on Coming Around the Moon's Far Side: "What a Special Place We Have" — Spoke with President Trump After Flyby

After the flyby the crew spoke live with President Trump. Koch said emerging from behind the Moon after 45 minutes of silence "reminds you what a special place we have." Wiseman told Trump seeing Mars, the crew discussed becoming "a two-planet species." A "Moon Joy" group hug photo was released April 7.

CBS News · AP · Apr 6–7

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First Deep-Space Press Conference — April 8, 2026

The Artemis II crew held their first press conference from space today — the first time a moon-bound crew has spoken to press since the Apollo era. NASA officials confirmed all systems are healthy: "Orion systems are operating nominally, remain healthy, and we are just trekking our way home from the moon." Dozens of lunar scientists at Mission Control have been reviewing real-time audio and imagery from the flyby, describing the data haul as extraordinary. NASA's science lead confirmed two craters have been formally identified for naming consideration.

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💜 Touching Moment — Crater Naming

During the flyby, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen radioed Mission Control: "It's a bright spot on the moon, and we would like to call it Carroll" — proposing a name for a crater straddling the Moon's near/far boundary, in honor of Carroll Taylor Wiseman, Commander Reid Wiseman's wife who died in 2020. The crew also proposed naming another crater "Integrity" after their Orion spacecraft. Both names will be formally submitted to the International Astronomical Union.

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Official Artemis II Lunar Flyby Photos — Apr 6–7, 2026

Released by NASA April 7–8, 2026. Thousands of images captured during 7-hour flyby — showing regions no human has ever seen.

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"Earthset" — Earth drops behind lunar horizon

Captured 6:41 PM EDT · Apr 6 · Ohm Crater visible

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"Earthrise" — New Apollo 8 Echo

Captured 7:22 PM EDT · Crescent Earth above Moon's horizon

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Solar eclipse from space — 54 min totality

Moon eclipses Sun · Saturn & Mars visible in same frame

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Far side of Moon — never seen by human eyes

Vavilov Crater, Hertzsprung Basin, ancient lava flows

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Milky Way galaxy from deep space

Captured Apr 7 on way home · 10-sec exposure

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"Moon Joy" — crew group hug on way home

Captured Apr 7 · All four astronauts + mascot Rise

📸 View Full Artemis II Photo Gallery on NASA →

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Mission Timeline — Full Journey

📍 Return Journey Progress — Orion "Integrity" · Splashdown in 2 days

Apr 1Launch

Apr 6Moon

Apr 8 ◀ YOU ARE HERE

Apr 10Splashdown

Apr 1

✅ Launch — SLS lifts off 6:35 PM EDT from Kennedy Space Center 39B · First crewed Moon mission since 1972

Apr 2

✅ Translunar injection burn — Orion breaks free of Earth orbit, heads for Moon. Crew becomes first humans to leave Earth orbit since Apollo 17

Apr 3

✅ "Hello, World" Earth photo — Wiseman photographs Earth upside-down through Orion window; iconic image shared worldwide

Apr 6

✅ HISTORIC LUNAR FLYBY — 7-hour flyby of Moon's far side · Distance record 252,756 miles · Earthset, Earthrise, solar eclipse · 40-min comms blackout · Spoke with President Trump

Apr 7

✅ Exited lunar sphere of influence — Orion now under Earth's gravity · First return correction burn fired 15 sec · Milky Way photo captured · "Moon Joy" group hug photo · Flyby images released

Apr 8 🔵

TODAY — Day 8 · Key tests & press conference — Radiation shielding test, orthostatic intolerance garment testing, flywheel exercise, first deep-space press conference. USS John P. Murtha steaming to recovery zone. NASA: "No concerns, no issues" with Orion heat shield

Apr 9

Final preparations — Cabin secured for entry, procedures rehearsal, final systems checks ahead of splashdown day

Apr 10

SPLASHDOWN — 8:07 PM EDT · Pacific Ocean, off San Diego — Peak re-entry speed 34,965 ft/sec · Up to 3.9g force · Recovery by USS John P. Murtha · Live coverage from 6:30 PM EDT on NASA+ and streaming platforms

The Artemis II Crew — Homeward Bound

Reid Wiseman

Commander

NASA veteran, former ISS Commander. His late wife Carroll will have a Moon crater named in her honor. Age 50.

Victor Glover

Pilot

First Black astronaut on a lunar mission. Shared Easter message from deep space. Age 49.

Christina Koch

Mission Specialist

Record-holder for longest female spaceflight (328 days). Called Moon a "witness plate" to solar system formation. Age 47.

Jeremy Hansen

Mission Specialist 🇨🇦

First Canadian to travel to Moon. Proposed naming Moon crater "Carroll." Spoke with PM Mark Carney Apr 8. Age 50.

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Solar System — Planet Profiles

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Mercury

0.39 AU · No atmosphere · −180° to 430°C

Smallest

🟡

Venus

0.72 AU · 464°C · 92× Earth pressure

Twin

🌍

Earth

Artemis II crew ~2 days from home!

🏠 Almost there

🔴

Mars

1.52 AU · Perseverance active · Human target

Next stop

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Jupiter

5.2 AU · 95 moons · Largest planet

Giant

🪐

Saturn

9.5 AU · 146 moons · Visible in Artemis flyby photo!

Rings

🔵

Uranus

19.2 AU · Spins sideways · Ice giant

Tilted

🌊

Neptune

30 AU · Fastest winds · 14 moons

Far

🌕

The Moon

Far side now photographed by humans for first time!

✅ Flyby done

🧊

Pluto

39 AU · Dwarf planet · Heart-shaped ice plain

Dwarf

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Sky Tonight — April 2026

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Track Artemis II

Orion is heading home — follow live on NASA tracker.

SPLASHDOWN FRI APR 10

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Waning Moon

After the full Pink Moon Apr 6, now waning gibbous. Rises late evening.

LATE EVENING

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Venus & Jupiter

Brilliant pair visible in the western sky after sunset.

EVENING · WEST

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Saturn · Dawn

Saturn, Mars & Mercury in the pre-dawn eastern sky.

PRE-DAWN · EAST

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Lyrid Meteors

Annual Lyrid meteor shower — peak April 22, 10–20/hr.

PEAK APR 22

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Comet A1 MAPS

Post-perihelion sungrazer — may still be visible at dawn low on horizon.

DAWN · LOW

🔭 Full April 2026 Stargazing Guide →

🛒

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Space Facts

Artemis II Record

252,756 miles from Earth — farthest humans ever. Beat Apollo 13 by 4,101 miles.

Apollo 13 Old Record

248,655 miles in April 1970 — held the record for 56 years until Apr 6, 2026

Re-entry Speed

34,965 ft/sec peak · 3.9g force · 7 parachutes deploy during descent

Solar Eclipse

Crew witnessed 54 minutes of lunar solar eclipse totality from deep space

Moon Facts

384,400 km from Earth · Far side now photographed by humans for first time

Speed of Light

299,792 km/s — light takes 1.3 seconds to reach the Moon

Splashdown Spot

Pacific Ocean off San Diego · Crew recovered by USS John P. Murtha

Next Missions

Artemis III 2027 · Artemis IV Moon landing 2028 at lunar south pole

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