{"id":519264,"date":"2026-04-08T09:32:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/519264\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:32:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:32:16","slug":"artemis-ii-live-updates-spirits-high-among-nasa-crew-as-spacecraft-returns-to-earth-after-record-breaking-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/519264\/","title":{"rendered":"Artemis II live updates: \u2018Spirits high\u2019 among Nasa crew as spacecraft returns to Earth after record-breaking mission"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Science continues as astronauts prepare for most dangerous part of the mission<\/p>\n

The spacecraft has been pointed towards Earth, and the ship that will pick up the astronauts after they splash down in the ocean is on its way \u2013 but still the work to do science in space continues.<\/p>\n

Today, for instance, they will be testing an \u201corthostatic intolerance garment\u201d. That\u2019s a special piece of clothing that is designed to help ensure astronauts keep their blood pressure and circulation as they come back into Earth\u2019s gravity.<\/p>\n

Andrew Griffin8 April 2026 09:49<\/p>\n

<\/a>Nasa says first return correction burn complete as Orion begins journey back to Earth<\/p>\n

Nasa said the Orion spacecraft carried out its first thruster burn overnight to correct its path back to Earth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 8.03pm EDT, the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, ignited its thrusters for 15 seconds, producing a change in velocity of 1.6 feet-per-second and guiding the Artemis II crew toward Earth,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n

After the historic mission, the spacecraft is now returning to Earth and will make a splashdown in the Pacific on Friday. <\/p>\n

Maroosha Muzaffar8 April 2026 08:40<\/p>\n

<\/a>Nasa explains why human observations are still needed in time of satellites and probes<\/p>\n

The Artemis II crew observed 30 lunar targets during their flyby, including parts of the Moon never witnessed before by human eyes.<\/p>\n

Nasa says \u201chuman eyes and brains are highly sensitive to subtle changes in colour, texture, and other surface characteristics\u201d.<\/p>\n

The agency added: \u201cHaving astronaut eyes observe the lunar surface directly, in combination with the context of all the advances that scientists have made about the Moon over the last several decades, may uncover new discoveries and a more nuanced appreciation for the features on the surface of the Moon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Details on the Moon observed by the crew include the massive 3.8-billion-year-old Orientale basin. Spanning nearly 600 miles, the crater \u2013 dubbed the \u201cGrand Canyon\u201d of the Moon \u2013 it was seen in full for the first time by astronauts.<\/p>\n

Mission commander Reid Wiseman described its annular ring: \u201cThe annular ring, which I think everybody describes as a pair of lips or a kiss on the far side of the moon, from here is very circular in nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ThisThis image provided by Nasa on Monday, 6 April 2026, shows the Moon, the near side (the hemisphere we see from Earth) visible at the top half of the disk, identifiable by the dark splotches. At the lower centre is Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the Moon\u2019s near and far sides. Everything below the crater is the far side (AP)<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThe northern part of it is wider, darker. The southern part is much lighter. It is very neat-looking \u2026 far more circular than I remember it looking in our training.\u201d<\/p>\n

During their flyby, the astronauts also suggested names for two additional craters. They named one after their spacecraft, \u201cIntegrity\u201d, and the second \u201cCarroll\u201d, in honour of Wiseman\u2019s late wife, Carroll Taylor Wiseman.<\/p>\n

Maroosha Muzaffar8 April 2026 08:00<\/p>\n

<\/a>Nutella goes viral after jar floats in zero gravity during Artemis II livestream<\/p>\n

The beloved chocolate spread brand has gained immense attention not just on this planet but also in space after the tub casually came on the Artemis II\u2019s livestream, making a star appearance.<\/p>\n

The jar moved across the spacecraft<\/a>\u2019s kitchen during NASA\u2019s historic lunar mission.<\/p>\n

The video garnered a lot of attention, with viewers claiming no marketing team could ever replicate this kind of ad placement. <\/p>\n

\"\"Nutella goes viral after jar floats in zero gravity during Artemis II livestream<\/a><\/p>\n

In a bizarre moment on the Artemis II livestream, a Nutella tub was seen floating in zero gravity across the cabin. The beloved chocolate spread brand has gained immense attention not just on this planet but also in space after the tub casually came on the Artemis II\u2019s livestream, making a star appearance. The jar moved across the spacecraft\u2019s kitchen during NASA\u2019s historic lunar mission. The video garnered a lot of attention, with viewers claiming no marketing team could ever replicate this kind of ad placement. <\/p>\n

Maroosha Muzaffar8 April 2026 07:20<\/p>\n

<\/a>When and where will the Orion spacecraft splash down?<\/p>\n

Nasa\u2019s Artemis II mission is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8.07pm EDT (5.07pm PDT) on Friday (10 April).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe location and time of our Artemis II splashdown will continue to shift as mission milestones are reached,\u201d Nasa says.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing splashdown, recovery teams will retrieve the crew using helicopters and deliver them to the USS John P Murtha.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce aboard, the astronauts will undergo post-mission medical evaluations in the ship\u2019s medical bay before travelling back to shore to meet with an aircraft bound for Nasa\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston.\u201d <\/p>\n

Maroosha Muzaffar8 April 2026 06:40<\/p>\n

<\/a>Artemis II crew shares stunning image of Milky Way<\/p>\n

Following a successful lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew shared an awe-inspiring image of the Milky Way galaxy. <\/p>\n

Maroosha Muzaffar8 April 2026 06:00<\/p>\n

<\/a>Nasa share new stunning Moon crater and Earth eclipse photos from Artemis II<\/p>\n

Nasa<\/a> has released two new photos captured on flight day six during the Artemis<\/a> II lunar flyby.<\/p>\n

The first image shows the far side of the Moon<\/a>\u2019s surface, pockmarked with craters, with a half-shadowed Earth<\/a> setting in the background.<\/p>\n

This \u201cEarthset\u201d photo beautifully complements the iconic \u201cEarthrise\u201d image taken by Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.<\/p>\n

Nasa\u2019s second snapshot shows the Moon fully eclipsing the Earth, \u201ccreating nearly 54 minutes of totality.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Artemis II astronauts are now over halfway through their mission. The crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 10.<\/p>\n

\"\"Nasa share new stunning moon crater and Earth eclipse photos from Artemis II<\/a><\/p>\n

Nasa has released two new photos captured on flight day six during the Artemis II lunar flyby. The first image shows the far side of the Moon\u2019s surface, pockmarked with craters, with a half-shadowed Earth setting in the background. This \u201cEarthset\u201d photo beautifully complements the iconic \u201cEarthrise\u201d image taken by Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. Nasa\u2019s second snapshot shows the Moon fully eclipsing the Earth, \u201ccreating nearly 54 minutes of totality.\u201d The Artemis II astronauts are now over halfway through their mission. The crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 10.<\/p>\n

Maroosha Muzaffar8 April 2026 05:20<\/p>\n

<\/a>Artemis II crew to test special garments for safe return to Earth<\/p>\n

The Artemis II crew will test special garments designed to prevent dizziness and blood pressure issues when returning to Earth\u2019s gravity, Nasa said yesterday.<\/p>\n

\u201cNasa astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, along with (Christina) Koch and (Jeremy) Hansen, are scheduled to test an orthostatic intolerance garment. During the test, the crew will evaluate the garments \u2014 specialised equipment designed to help astronauts maintain blood pressure and circulation during the transition back to Earth\u2019s gravity,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n

\"InIn this image provided by Nasa, the Artemis II crew captured from lunar orbit, the Moon eclipses the Sun on Monday, 6 April 2026<\/p>\n

The Orion spacecraft (Integrity) is heading back toward Earth, and the crew is preparing for final tests and return-to-Earth operations on Wednesday. <\/p>\n

Maroosha Muzaffar8 April 2026 04:40<\/p>\n

<\/a>Orion spacecraft begins journey back to Earth<\/p>\n

The Orion spacecraft (Integrity) fired its thrusters briefly to adjust its path and head back toward Earth, Nasa said yesterday.<\/p>\n

Astronauts Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen monitored systems during the manoeuvre, and Nasa also released the first images from the lunar flyby and confirmed that the recovery ship is en route in the Pacific.<\/p>\n

The crew will rest overnight, Nasa added, before preparing for final tests and return-to-Earth operations on Wednesday. <\/p>\n

Maroosha Muzaffar8 April 2026 04:02<\/p>\n

<\/a>Nasa images shown in new video<\/p>\n

And here, in video form, are those astonishing new images from the astronauts\u2019 journey:<\/p>\n

\"\"Nasa share new stunning moon crater and Earth eclipse photos from Artemis II<\/a><\/p>\n

Nasa has released two new photos captured on flight day six during the Artemis II lunar flyby. The first image shows the far side of the Moon\u2019s surface, pockmarked with craters, with a half-shadowed Earth setting in the background. This \u201cEarthset\u201d photo beautifully complements the iconic \u201cEarthrise\u201d image taken by Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. Nasa\u2019s second snapshot shows the Moon fully eclipsing the Earth, \u201ccreating nearly 54 minutes of totality.\u201d The Artemis II astronauts are now over halfway through their mission. The crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 10.<\/p>\n

Andrew Griffin7 April 2026 16:00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Science continues as astronauts prepare for most dangerous part of the mission The spacecraft has been pointed towards…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":519265,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[90,416,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-519264","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-space","8":"tag-science","9":"tag-space","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=519264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/519265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=519264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=519264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=519264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}