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Steve Kapala, Jesse Wang, Vlad Link and Laddy Aldridge of the U.S. Navy dive medical team pose aboard the USS John P. Murtha ahead of Artemis 2 recovery operations in the Pacific Ocean.

Meet the US Navy divers who welcomed the Artemis 2 astronauts home from the moon

By Samantha Mathewson published

Four Navy divers made a contribution to the historic Artemis 2 moon mission, welcoming its astronauts home to Earth and making sure they were safe and healthy.

Artemis
NASA moved the core stage, or the largest section, of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will launch the crewed Artemis 3 mission in 2027 from the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility to the agency’s Pegasus barge in New Orleans on April 20.

NASA rolls out Artemis 3 SLS rocket's huge core stage to gear up for 2027 launch (photo)

By Mike Wall published

NASA rolled the Artemis 3 core stage out from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Monday (April 20). The next stop is the launch site: Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Artemis
NASA’s Orion spacecraft captures the Moon and the Earth in one frame during the Artemis II crew’s deep space journey at 6:42 p.m. ET on the sixth day of the mission. The right side of NASA’s Orion spacecraft is seen lit up by the Sun. A waxing crescent Moon is visible behind it. And then, a crescent Earth, tiny compared to the Moon, is about to set below the Moon’s horizon on the right.

Artemis 2 and Tiangong space station astronauts set record for farthest distance between humans

By Julian Dossett published

For a few moments on April 6, the four Artemis 2 moon astronauts and the three crewmates aboard China's Tiangong space station were farther away from each other than any humans had ever been.

Artemis
The four Artemis 2 astronauts (at right) inspect their Orion capsule “Integrity” in the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha on April 11, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Integrity splashed down a day earlier, ending the 10-day Artemis 2 moon mission.

Artemis 2's heat shield seems to have aced its trial by fire

By Mike Wall published

The heat shield on Artemis 2's Orion capsule appears to have held up incredibly well during its scorching downward trip through Earth's atmosphere, mission commander Reid Wiseman said.

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Artemis
Earth sets at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, over the Moon’s curved limb in this photo captured by the Artemis 2 crew during their journey around the far side of the Moon. Orientale basin is perched on the edge of the visible lunar surface.

Landing astronauts on the moon 'is absolutely doable, and it's doable soon,' NASA's Artemis 2 commander says

By Josh Dinner published

The Artemis 2 astronauts said they gained a deeper understanding of their Orion capsule during their moon mission — and what they learned bodes well for future Artemis flights.

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Artemis
Two images with a view of an NASA Orion spacecraft on left and space toilet on right.

'That was a wonderful toilet': Artemis 2 commander defends mission's lunar loo

By Mike Wall published

Artemis 2's groundbreaking space toilet doesn't deserve the bad press it's gotten over the past two weeks, according to mission commander Reid Wiseman.

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Artemis
an image of the Earth setting behind the moon

A new Earthrise: An Apollo historian experiences Artemis 2

By Andrew Chaikin published

As Artemis 2 approached, my anticipation was mixed with uncertainty. Would this new Moon mission spark the wonder and excitement I'd felt during Apollo? Those doubts didn't last long.

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Artemis
NASA’s Orion spacecraft captures the Moon and the Earth in one frame during the Artemis II crew’s deep space journey at 6:42 p.m. ET on the sixth day of the mission. The right side of NASA’s Orion spacecraft is seen lit up by the Sun. A waxing crescent Moon is visible behind it. And then, a crescent Earth, tiny compared to the Moon, is about to set below the Moon’s horizon on the right.

NASA's Artemis 2 moonshot was just the 'opening act' for America's return to the moon, space agency chief says

By Elizabeth Howell published

Artemis 2 kicks off a lunar "relay race" that will lead the NASA and its international partners to a moon base and, eventually, Mars, NASA chief Jared Isaacman says.

Artemis
Artemis 2 NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman cheers while carrying Rise, the mission mascot.

This Artemis 2 astronaut really loves Rise | Space photo of the day for April 14, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd published

"Rise Wiseman" might be the most beloved mission mascot in history.

Artemis
inset images of the Artemis 2 crew and ISS crew involved in the long distance phone call. There is a graphic of the moon in lower right corner and earth in upper left corner.

Artemis 2 calling ISS! Watch the farthest-ever astronaut call from the moon to Earth (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Astronauts aboard Artemis 2 and the ISS connected across a record-breaking Earth–moon distance in the farthest crew call ever made in space.

Artemis
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