Artemis II Splashdown Time: When and How to Watch NASA’s Moon Mission Return to Earth Today

The historic Artemis II mission is coming to a nail-biting conclusion today, Friday, April 10, 2026. After nearly 10 days in space and traveling further from Earth than any human in history, the four-person crew is preparing for a high-stakes splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The Orion spacecraft, dubbed Integrity, will face its final and most dangerous test: a high-velocity reentry through Earth’s atmosphere that pilot Victor Glover has famously described as "riding a fireball."

What Time is the Artemis II Splashdown?

NASA and the U.S. Navy are targeting a splashdown time of 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT).

The reentry sequence begins roughly 40 minutes prior, when the crew will separate from the service module at an altitude of 400,000 feet. At 7:53 p.m. EDT, the capsule will hit the upper atmosphere, triggering a six-minute communications blackout as superheated plasma surrounds the craft. If all goes according to plan, the USS John P. Murtha will be waiting at the designated landing site to begin recovery operations.

How to Watch the Artemis II Return Live

NASA is providing unprecedented access to the mission’s finale. Live coverage is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT. You can stream the event on the following platforms:

• NASA+: The agency’s official ad-free streaming service.
• YouTube: NASA’s official channel will host a 24/7 live feed.
• Netflix & Peacock: Major streaming partners will carry the NBC News special report.
• Social Media: Real-time updates will be posted via @NASAArtemis on X and Instagram.

Artemis II astronauts have traveled 252,756 miles from Earth, flown around the Moon, and observed the lunar surface like never before. Now, they’re coming home. ????

Watch the crew splash down on Friday, April 10, around 8:07pm ET (0007 UTC April 11). https://t.co/Ccsk5Z3HFS pic.twitter.com/QoJW2oYVFG

— NASA (@NASA) April 10, 2026

The Recovery: What Happens After Splashdown?

Once the three massive orange-and-white parachutes slow the capsule to a gentle 20 mph, the recovery phase begins. Navy divers from the USS John P. Murtha will secure the capsule before extracting astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.

The crew will be airlifted by helicopter to the recovery ship for immediate medical evaluations. After 10 days of microgravity, the transition back to Earth’s "1G" environment can be physically taxing, with NASA flight surgeons standing by to assist with the transition.