Sunday April 12, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Artemis II mission has happened.
In case you missed it, the 10-day mission to the Moon and back happened between April 1 launch (from Florida) and April 10 splashdown (into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego).
Tack on a final celebration event in Houston for the cameras on April 11, and the mission was concluded.
The astronauts finally now have some time off, though likely it will take days, weeks and months to process all the various aspects of the journey for themselves (mentally, physically and emotionally), for their families, for NASA, and for the Canadian Space Agency (which backed Astronaut Jeremy Hansen all the way).
NASA’s checklist:
On April 12, NASA gave themselves six check marks for the Artemis II Moon mission being complete (as posted by NASA on April 12, 2026):
- Space Launch System rocket launched crew into space
- Orion spacecraft kept astronauts safe
- Flew around the Moon, observed its far side
- New human spaceflight distance record
- Crew safely returned to Earth
- Inspired the WORLD.
Coverage by Island Social Trends:
Island Social Trends spent 10 days ‘in space’ (remotely) by following the livestream transmissions non-stop (including through the night) and attending (remotely) or tuning-into all the news conferences. We slept when the crew slept.
Here is a summary of our coverage:
April 1 to 4, 2026 – Launch and approaching the Moon
DAY ONE (Wednesday April 1) – The launch window of 6:24 pm ET (3:24 pm PT) was achieved. The date could have changed due to weather and technical factors. | See: Photos & notes from the successful launch which took place at 6:35:12 pm ET. | Troubleshooting some technical things on Day One
DAY TWO (Thursday April 2) – Technology Details | Lunar Burn goes well
DAY THREE (Friday April 3) – Meals and exercise in space
DAY FOUR (Saturday April 4) – Comments from astronauts from space, & NASA press conference
April 5 to 10, 2026: Artemis II Moon Observations and Return
DAY FIVE (Easter Sunday, April 5) – Easter tech report from space
DAY SIX (Monday of the Easter Long Weekend, April 6) – Observing the moon up close & travelling behind it
DAY SEVEN (Tuesday April 7) – [We spent this day catching up on notes, capturing livestream screenshots, sorting photos, and listening to the livestream and tuning into NASA’s evening press conference.]
DAY EIGHT (Wednesday April 8) – Artemis II Crew wakes up to ‘Under Pressure’ song by Queen and David Bowie — a song selection by Canada’s Col Jeremy Hansen. Later around 4:30 pm PT, Prime Minister Carney chatted with Astronaut Jeremy Hansen (as part of a Canadian Space Agency event). And there a live press conference (dial-in) for media to ask the astronauts some questions (yep, Earth to space capsule!).
DAY NINE (Thursday April 9) – The crew started packing up the cabin in preparation for next-day entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. | The crew participated in a real-time livestreamed question-and-answer session with members of the US Congress. | Hansen on NASA mission funding
DAY TEN (Friday April 10) – Getting ready for splashdown. Watching the splashdown phases unfold (sharing that six-minute nail-biting silence with the rest of the world), and tracking the mainstream media coverage (both Canadian and American) as well as listening to the NASA livestream.
Then, the 5:07 pm splashdown was a success! The parachutes opened, allowing the capsule to gently land in the Pacific Ocean at about 27 kph. First search-and-rescue style boats arrived arrived to set up the exit ‘porch’, then the astronauts were retrieved from the capsule one by one (commander last). The astronauts were then lifted one by one into helicopters and flown to a large US Navy vessel. The four astronauts were then taken to a medical facility in San Diego for a preliminary checkup and a first-sleep back on Earth. The next morning they were transported to Houston for the final press journey of their mission.
===== RELATED:
- Artemis II astronauts safely home but humanity hungers for more (April 12, 2026)
- Artemis II splashdown, four astronauts home! (April 10, 2026)
- Day 10: Artemis II crew on their way home (April 10, 2026)
- Astronaut Jeremy Hansen on mission funding & just doing your best (April 9, 2026)
- Artemis II: Computers, iPhones & email (April 8, 2026)
- Artemis II crew wakes up Day 8 to ‘Under Pressure’ (April 8, 2026)
- Artemis II: Day 5 tech talk and Easter messages (April 5, 2026)
- Hansen chats with Canadian youth in Sunday morning livestream (April 5, 2026)
- Artemis II from Earth to Moon and back: Day 4 update (April 4, 2026)
- Artemis II crew: burning smell so far not of concern (April 4, 2026)
- Artemis II: Day 3 meals & tech work (April 3, 2026)
- Artemis II: Col Jeremy Hansen says “It was a great burn!” (April 2, 2026)
- Day 2 technology details for Artemis II crew (April 2, 2026)
- Artemis II: troubleshooting some technical things (April 2, 2026)
- Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen heads to the moon (April 1, 2026)
- Artemis Mission Updates (NASA)
- NEWS SECTIONS: AEROSPACE | OFF-PLANET | TECHNOLOGY | NASA