Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleMarcia Dunn & Graeme MassieSunday 12 April 2026 08:57 BSTArtemis II crew's heartfelt messages to family ahead of historic splashdownThe four-person Artemis II crew received a hero's welcome in Houston after splashing down to Earth following their mission around the moon.Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen returned to Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center.During their nearly 10-day mission, the astronauts voyaged deeper into space than previous lunar explorers, capturing views of the moon's far side and an 'Earthset' photo.They set a new distance record, reaching 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometres) from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13's record.The successful mission is crucial for NASA's future plans, including Artemis III next year and the Artemis IV moon landing scheduled for 2028.In fullArtemis II astronauts receive hero’s welcome as they return to Houston after splashdown back on EarthThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in