NASA Extracts Artemis II Crew After Splashdown, Sent For Medical Evaluation
Artemis II astronauts are safely recovered after splashdown, marking a successful return from a landmark lunar mission. Image courtesy: X.com/@NASA
The US space agency has extracted all the crew members of the Artemis II after their splashdown and has transferred them for their medical evaluation.
On Friday (April 10, 2026), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said the four crew members were now on the USS John P Murtha and would go through post-mission medical evaluations.
In an X post, NASA said: “All four of the Artemis II astronauts have been successfully extracted from the Orion spacecraft following splashdown and are now on the USS John P. Murtha.”
It added, “Next up, they will be escorted to the medical bay where they will undergo post-mission medical evaluations.”
All four of the Artemis II astronauts have been successfully extracted from the Orion spacecraft following splashdown and are now on the USS John P. Murtha. Next up, they will be escorted to the medical bay where they will undergo post-mission medical evaluations. pic.twitter.com/v96RFKEUNN
— NASA (@NASA) April 11, 2026
Interestingly, as the Artemis II re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere, the crew on board the International Space Station (ISS) caught a glimpse of the Artemis II crew after completing their space travel to the Moon.
NASA astronaut Chris Williams said in a post on X: “Our crew on the International Space Station caught a glimpse of the Artemis II crew as they re-entered the atmosphere from their journey to the Moon!”
He said, “We first saw a bright light and a trail as the service module burned up. We didn’t see the Orion capsule itself as it re-entered, but we saw the wispy trail it left behind in the upper atmosphere. Overjoyed that our friends are safely back on Earth after their awe-inspiring mission!”
Our crew on the @Space_Station caught a glimpse of the @NASAArtemis II crew as they re-entered the atmosphere from their journey to the Moon! We first saw a bright light and a trail as the service module burned up. We didn’t see the Orion capsule itself as it re-entered, but we… pic.twitter.com/4uzu3wBefB
— Chris Williams (@Astro_ChrisW) April 11, 2026
The Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth, successfully splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, marking a historic milestone in human space exploration, the NASA said on Saturday (April 11).
Moments before reentry, NASA wrote on X, “Fist bump! The Artemis II crew is now under 35,000 miles from Earth. The astronauts are preparing the spacecraft for reentry, and the weather is looking good for splashdown.”
Fist bump! 👊
— NASA (@NASA) April 10, 2026
The Artemis II crew is now under 35,000 miles from Earth. The astronauts are preparing the spacecraft for reentry and the weather is looking good for splashdown. pic.twitter.com/jYNlo0xoNu
