Artemis II’s astronauts returned from the moon with a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific to close out humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than a half-century.

The four Artemis II astronauts, returning from the world's first crewed moon voyage in over half a century, hurtled back toward Earth as they prepared their Orion spacecraft for the final phase ⁠of their descent and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California.

The Artemis II crew has splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, completing their mission to the moon and back. Follow live.

The four Artemis II astronauts, returning from the world's first crewed moon voyage in over ​half a century, hurtled back toward Earth on Friday aboard their gumdrop-shaped Orion spacecraft, headed for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California. The finale to NASA's celebrated 10-day mission was expected to begin with separation of Orion's crew capsule from its service module, followed by a fiery re-entry through Earth's atmosphere and a six-minute radio ​blackout before the capsule parachutes ‌into the sea.

As the spacecraft travels through the void between the Moon and Earth, the crew is focused on preparing for a high-stakes reentry.