Four astronauts aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft have returned to Earth after a historic mission around the Moon as part of the Artemis II programme.
NASA has released some of the first images taken as the Artemis II crew inside the Orion spacecraft returned to Earth following a spectacular journey around the moon.
The Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 8.07am Perth time on Saturday with NASA labelling the landing as “textbook” and a “perfect bullseye”.
The four astronauts — commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and specialists Jeremy Hensen and Christina Koch — were one by one led out of the capsule about one hour after it splashed down off the Californian coast.
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They are all doing okay and are undergoing a medical evaluation aboard the Navy ship USS John P Murtha.
Here are some incredible photos of the splash down and recovery of the Orion and the crew taken by NASA photographers.
The Artemis II Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. Credit: AAPNASA’s Orion capsule descends under its main parachutes over the Pacific Ocean following a successful 1-day Artemis II mission. Credit: Josh Valcarcel - NASA - JSCNASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crewmembers NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/(NASA/Bill Ingalls)NASA’s Orion spacecraft is seen as recovery teams work to secure the spacecraft. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky/(NASA/Joel Kowsky)A Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 with the Artemis II crew. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky/(NASA/Joel Kowsky)NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman awaiting the astronauts' return. Credit: NASA/Bill IngallsNASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, left, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, are seen sitting on a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/(NASA/Bill Ingalls)NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, left, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist are seen sitting on a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/(NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, left, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist are seen sitting on a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/(NASA/Bill Ingalls)NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/(NASA/Bill Ingalls)NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, left, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, talk with NASA Flight Surgeon Richard Scheuring at their Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/(NASA/Bill Ingalls)NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, gives NASA Flight Surgeon Richard Scheuring a hug on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/(NASA/Bill Ingalls)NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P. Murtha. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls/(NASA/Bill Ingalls)Artemis II Flight Control Team pictured at consoles within the White Flight Control Room in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center for the splashdown and recovery of the Artemis II crew as it landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Credit: ROBERT MARKOWITZ NASA-JSCMembers of NASA’s communications team react to the successful splashdown of the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II mission. Credit: John KrausNASA Administrator Jared Isaacman greeted by Navy sailors onboard USS John P Murtha. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
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