Artemis II crew safely splash down off San Diego coast after historic moon mission

The Artemis II mission concludes successfully as the crew capsule re-enters Earth's atmosphere at hypersonic speeds exceeding 30 times the speed of sound. The intense friction generates extreme temperatures comparable to half the sun's surface before the spacecraft executes a controlled splashdown off the California coast. This achievement marks a significant milestone in NASA's lunar exploration program, demonstrating advanced heat shield technology and recovery procedures essential for future deep space missions.