When will Artemis II astronauts return to Earth? NASA reveals landing schedule

NASA has confirmed that the crew of the Artemis II mission is now on its return journey, having crossed the halfway mark between the Moon and Earth. The key question now: when will they be back?

When will Artemis II astronauts return to Earth?

The four-member crew is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at around 8:07 pm ET on Friday, 10 April — which translates to approximately 5:37 am IST on Saturday, 11 April.

The landing is planned off the coast of San Diego, marking the end of the 10-day mission.

“Halfway home”: What NASA said

In an update posted on X, NASA said the astronauts are now “halfway home” after completing their lunar flyby and beginning their return trajectory towards Earth.

A record-breaking journey

The mission has already made history. Travelling aboard the Orion spacecraft, the astronauts reached a distance greater than any human spaceflight before, surpassing the record set by Apollo 13.

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At its furthest point, Orion travelled about 252,756 miles (around 406,771 km) from Earth, setting a new benchmark for human exploration.

How the mission began

Artemis II lifted off on 1 April aboard NASA’s Space Launch System from Kennedy Space Center.

The mission took the crew on a journey around the Moon before looping back towards Earth for re-entry and splashdown.

Can you track the spacecraft live?

Yes. NASA is providing real-time tracking of Orion through its Artemis tracking platform, accessible via its official website and mobile app, allowing people worldwide to follow the spacecraft’s final leg home.

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What happens after splashdown?

Once the spacecraft lands in the Pacific, recovery teams will retrieve the crew and capsule, bringing the landmark Artemis II mission to a close.