Covering the Artemis II space mission over 10 days

Artemis II crew in place ahead of launch on April 1, 2026. [NASA livestream]

Sunday April 12, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC

by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends

The Artemis II mission has happened.

In case you missed it, the 10-day mission to the Moon and back happened between April 1 launch (from Florida) and April 10 splashdown (into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego).

Artemis II crew on Integrity just about to splashdown into the Pacific Ocean at 5:07 pm PT on April 10, 2026. [NASA]

Tack on a final celebration event in Houston for the cameras on April 11, and the mission was concluded.

Back on Earth after their 10-day journey in space, the ARtemis II crew addressed a gathered crowd at the Johnson Space Centre and watching around the globe, April 11, 2026. [lviestream]

The astronauts finally now have some time off, though likely it will take days, weeks and months to process all the various aspects of the journey for themselves (mentally, physically and emotionally), for their families, for NASA, for the Canadian Space Agency (which backed Astronaut Jeremy Hansen all the way).

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NASA’s checklist:

On April 12, NASA gave themselves six check marks for Artemis II Moon mission complete (as posted by NASA on April 12, 2026):

Success! NASA gives themselves six checkmarks for accomplishments of the Artemis II mission. [April 12, 2026 on X]

Space Launch System rocket launched crew into space

Orion spacecraft kept astronauts safe

Flew around the Moon, observed its far side

New human spaceflight distance record

Crew safely returned to Earth

Inspired the WORLD.

Coverage by Island Social Trends:

Island Social Trends spent 10 days ‘in space’ (remotely) by following the livestream transmissions non-stop (including through the night) and attending (remotely) or tuning-into all the news conferences. We slept when the crew slept.

Here is a summary of our coverage:

April 1 to 4, 2026 – Launch and approaching the Moon

DAY ONE (Wednesday April 1) – The launch window of 6:24 pm ET (3:24 pm PT) was achieved. The date could have changed due to weather and technical factors. | See: Photos & notes from the successful launch which took place at 6:35:12 pm ET. | Troubleshooting some technical things on Day One

Artemis II is ‘clear to launch’ at 1 hr 12 min to launch (set for 6:24 pm ET] [livestream]

DAY TWO (Thursday April 2) – Technology Details | Lunar Burn goes well

Artemis II: View from the Orion on April 2, 2026 around 4:58 pm PT. [NASA]

DAY THREE (Friday April 3) – Meals and exercise in space

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen eating a meal on board the Orion space vehicle along with fellow astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover, on Day 3 of the Artemis II mission, April 3, 2026. [livestream]

DAY FOUR (Saturday April 4) – Comments from astronauts from space & NASA press conference

Canadian Astronaut Col Jeremy Hansen delivered a Canada Space Agency press conference on April 4, 2026 about the Artemis II mission on board Integrity. [NASA livestream]

April 5 to 10, 2026: Artemis II Moon Observations and Return

DAY FIVE (Easter Sunday, April 5) – Easter tech report from space

Artemis II crew in their Integrity space capsule, 4:15 pm PT. [NASA livesteram]

DAY SIX (Monday of the Easter Long Weekend, April 6) – Observing the moon up close & travelling behind it

The Orion capsule on its Artemis II mission heading for the moon, Day 6, April 6, 2026 around 12:37 pm PT… astronauts report the moon appearing brown in colour. [NASA livestream]

DAY SEVEN (Tuesday April 7) – [We spent this day catching up on notes, capturing livestream screenshots, sorting photos, and listening to the livestream and tuning into NASA’s evening press conference.]

Orion capsule in space, carrying the Artemis II crew, on April 7, 2026 at 2:54 pm PT. [NASA livestream]

NASA’s Artemis II press conference on Day 7 (April 7, 2026) from Houston. [livestream]

DAY EIGHT (Wednesday April 8) – Artemis II Crew wakes up to ‘Under Pressure’ song by Queen and David Bowie — a song selection by Canada’s Col Jeremy Hansen. Later around 4:30 pm PT, Prime Minister Carney chatted with Astronaut Jeremy Hansen (a Canadian Space Agency event). And a live press conference (dial-in) for media to ask the astronauts some questions.

Artemis II crew on board Integrity on April 8, 2026 during live chat with the Canadian Space Agency. [NASA livestream]

DAY NINE (Thursday April 9) – The crew started packing up the cabin in preparation for next-day entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. | The crew participated in a real-time livestreamed question-and-answer session with members of the US Congress. | Hansen on NASA mission funding

On Day 9 (April 9, 2026) of their journey, the Artemis II crew starting packing up the cabin to prepare for re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere on Day 10. [NASA livestream]

Artemis II crew on board Integrity on April 9, 2026 during live chat with several members of the US Congress. From left: Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Jeremy Hansen [NASA livestream]

DAY TEN (Friday April 10) – Getting ready for splashdown. Watching the splashdown phases unfold (sharing that six-minute nail-biting silence with the rest of the world), and tracking the mainstream media coverage as well as listening to the NASA livestream.

The four Artemis II astronauts ‘on the porch’ (a raft for use outside their space capsule after splashdown), on April 10, 2026. [NASA livestream]

Then, the 5:07 pm splashdown was a success! The parachutes opened, allowing the capsule to gently land in the Pacific Ocean at about 27 kph. First boats search-and-rescue style boats arrived arrived to set up the exit ‘porch’, the astronauts were retrieved from the capsule one by one (commander last), then lifted one by one into helicopters, then flown to a large US Navy vessel, and then taken to a medical facility in San Diego for a first checkup, then transported to Houston the next morning.

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