Millions of space enthusiasts across the globe are preparing to witness history as Artemis II completes its groundbreaking journey around the Moon and prepares to return safely to Earth.
After travelling hundreds of thousands of miles through deep space, the spacecraft will make a dramatic return to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of California. The mission marks the first crewed journey around the Moon in more than five decades, reviving global interest in human space exploration.
According to NASA, the splashdown is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 10, concluding the historic mission that began with liftoff on April 1.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in UK (BST)
1:07 AM BST — Saturday, April 11, 2026
People in the UK will need to stay up late into the night, as the Orion capsule is expected to splash down shortly after midnight.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in the United States (EDT / PDT / CDT)
8:07 PM EDT — Friday, April 10
7:07 PM CDT — Friday, April 10
5:07 PM PDT — Friday, April 10
The spacecraft will land in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California in the evening hours.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in India (IST)
5:37 AM IST — Saturday, April 11, 2026
Early morning viewers in India can watch the splashdown live before sunrise.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in Canada (EDT)
8:07 PM EDT — Friday, April 10, 2026
Eastern Canada shares the same time window as the U.S. East Coast.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in Colombia (COT)
7:07 PM COT — Friday, April 10, 2026
Viewers in Colombia can watch the return during evening hours.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in Finland (EEST)
3:07 AM EEST — Saturday, April 11, 2026
Finland viewers will see the event early in the morning hours.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in France (CEST)
2:07 AM CEST — Saturday, April 11, 2026
French viewers should prepare for a late-night or early-morning watch.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in Germany (CEST)
2:07 AM CEST — Saturday, April 11, 2026
Germany shares the same Central European time window.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in Japan (JST)
9:07 AM JST — Saturday, April 11, 2026
Japanese viewers can watch the splashdown comfortably in the morning.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in Peru (PET)
7:07 PM PET — Friday, April 10, 2026
Peru viewers can follow the landing during evening hours.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in Singapore (SGT)
8:07 AM SGT — Saturday, April 11, 2026
Singapore viewers can tune in during the morning.
Artemis 2 Splashdown Time in Wales (BST)
1:07 AM BST — Saturday, April 11, 2026
Wales shares the same viewing time as the rest of the United Kingdom.
What Happens After Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean
Once the Orion capsule lands in the Pacific Ocean, trained recovery teams will move quickly to secure the spacecraft and ensure astronaut safety. Special recovery ships from NASA and the U.S. Navy will surround the capsule within minutes of splashdown.
Divers will enter the water first to inspect the capsule and attach flotation devices if needed. These devices help stabilise the spacecraft and keep it upright in the ocean. After confirming that the capsule is safe, recovery crews will carefully open the hatch and assist the astronauts out one by one.
Medical teams will conduct immediate health checks on the crew to ensure they are in good condition after their long journey through space. Astronauts often experience dizziness or weakness after returning to Earth due to gravity changes, so doctors monitor them closely during the first few hours.
After the astronauts exit safely, engineers will lift the Orion capsule onto a recovery ship using heavy cranes. Teams will then transport the spacecraft back to shore for further inspection and data analysis. Scientists will study mission data collected during the flight to improve safety systems and prepare for future lunar missions.
This recovery process represents the final stage of the Artemis II mission and serves as a major step toward future crewed Moon landings planned under NASA’s Artemis program.
