After traveling 694,481 miles on a round trip to the Moon, the Lockheed Martin developed Orion spacecraft has successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, completing NASA’s Artemis II mission and marking a significant step forward in humanity’s return to deep space exploration.
Following a 10-day lunar journey, Orion and its four-person crew re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at speeds nearing 24,000 mph. The spacecraft then deployed its parachutes before safely landing off the southern California coast. This mission proved Orion’s capability to transport astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit—farther than humans have ever ventured—and bring them safely back, a key requirement for future Artemis missions.
“As Orion returns its crew safely from the first human deep space mission in over 50 years, we’ve demonstrated what can be achieved through innovation, precision, and collaboration,” said Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space. “I’m incredibly proud of our team. This mission confirms Orion’s performance in extreme conditions and shows we’re ready for the next phase—returning astronauts to the Moon.”
Orion’s Mission: Paving the Way for Future Exploration
During the mission, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen traveled thousands of miles beyond the Moon’s far side on a free-return trajectory. Throughout the journey, the crew:
Conducted essential system checks, including life support, navigation, communications, propulsion, and manual control Captured scientific images and observations of the Moon’s far side Tested Orion’s integrated life support systems, advanced avionics, and crew interfaces Set a new record for the farthest human spaceflight from Earth at 252,756 miles Following a 10-day lunar journey, Orion and its four-person crew re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at speeds nearing 24,000 mph. The spacecraft then deployed its parachutes before safely landing off the southern California coast. This mission proved Orion’s capability to transport astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit—farther than humans have ever ventured—and bring them safely back, a key requirement for future Artemis missions.
“As Orion returns its crew safely from the first human deep space mission in over 50 years, we’ve demonstrated what can be achieved through innovation, precision, and collaboration,” said Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space. “I’m incredibly proud of our team. This mission confirms Orion’s performance in extreme conditions and shows we’re ready for the next phase—returning astronauts to the Moon.”
Orion’s Mission: Paving the Way for Future Exploration
During the mission, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen traveled thousands of miles beyond the Moon’s far side on a free-return trajectory. Throughout the journey, the crew:
These systems allowed astronauts to live and work in deep space while collecting critical data. The insights gathered will help refine technologies and mission operations ahead of Artemis III—which will test docking with NASA’s Human Landing System—and Artemis IV, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era.
Orion delivered strong performance throughout the mission, particularly during its most intense phase—re-entry. Its heat shield endured temperatures close to 5,000°F, while the parachute system executed a carefully timed descent to ensure a safe splashdown.
After landing, recovery teams retrieved the crew by helicopter and transported them to the USS John P. Murtha recovery ship. The astronauts will undergo medical evaluations before heading back to shore and then traveling to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Lockheed Martin serves as the primary contractor for NASA’s Orion spacecraft, overseeing its design, development, and production. The company continues to collaborate with NASA and its partners to advance sustainable lunar exploration and support long-term plans for human missions to Mars.
Orion delivered strong performance throughout the mission, particularly during its most intense phase—re-entry. Its heat shield endured temperatures close to 5,000°F, while the parachute system executed a carefully timed descent to ensure a safe splashdown.
After landing, recovery teams retrieved the crew by helicopter and transported them to the USS John P. Murtha recovery ship. The astronauts will undergo medical evaluations before heading back to shore and then traveling to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Lockheed Martin serves as the primary contractor for NASA’s Orion spacecraft, overseeing its design, development, and production. The company continues to collaborate with NASA and its partners to advance sustainable lunar exploration and support long-term plans for human missions to Mars.