Four astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission completed their return journey from the moon on Friday, marking the end of humanity's first crewed lunar voyage in more than half a century. The Orion spacecraft executed its final approach toward a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California.
The mission's conclusion represented the most technically challenging phase of the 10-day journey. Mission controllers prepared for the separation of Orion's crew capsule from its service module, followed by atmospheric reentry at speeds exceeding 25,000 miles per hour.
During reentry, the spacecraft experienced temperatures reaching 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit as it descended through Earth's atmosphere. A six-minute radio blackout period occurred as superheated plasma formed around the capsule, temporarily severing communication with ground control.
The gumdrop-shaped crew capsule deployed its parachute system in the final phase of descent, slowing from hypersonic speeds to approximately 20 miles per hour for ocean impact. Recovery vessels positioned in the Pacific awaited the capsule's arrival to retrieve both crew and spacecraft.
This mission establishes the foundation for NASA's broader Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2028. The successful completion of Artemis II validates critical life support systems and spacecraft performance needed for future deep space exploration.
France 24 frames the mission as a celebrated technical achievement, emphasizing the dramatic reentry sequence and positioning it within NASA's broader space ambitions. Their coverage reflects European interest in participating in future lunar exploration partnerships while maintaining editorial distance from American space nationalism.