The final day of the space mission, including splashdown, which takes place in the early hours of tomorrow (11th April 2026).

But first this interesting video from Speedify which attempted to explain the differences between 2026’s Artemis 2 mission and that of the Apollo missions.

He is quite right about these things. The Apollo broadcasts are still outstanding however because they were practically as things happened (given a very short time delay). And those for Artemis were in fact of higher quality (or bitrate etc). Nevertheless the low quality the Artemis 2 lunar flyby afforded disappointed many because there seemed little desire to excel beyond what Apollo had achieved. Have discussed this in other posts anyway.

Artemis II astronauts have traveled 252,756 miles from Earth, flown around the Moon, and observed the lunar surface like never before. Now, they’re coming home. 🌎

Watch the crew splash down on Friday, April 10, around 8:07pm ET (0007 UTC April 11). https://t.co/Ccsk5Z3HFS pic.twitter.com/QoJW2oYVFG

— NASA (@NASA) April 10, 2026

1815pm UK time: MSS just said six hours forty eight minutes to splashdown. Cloud cover is expected to be minimal and weather looks good.

Current view of Orion with earth in the background. About 52,000 miles to go however speed is now 5,900mph and increasing.

Just six hours and counting. Live picture from Orion as the crew prepare for the return to earth.

The crew and MSS are currently in some confusion over a file and they are discussing whether it ought to be Version one or Version two. It seems MSS saved it as Version one but the Orion crew saved it as Version two. These are part of the steps for the craft’s re-entry – and it seems both MSS and the Orion crew are going over every detail (its called the burn conference apparently) ensuring everything is up to date for the approach and re-entry etc and going over the critical numbers for the return trajectory.

In about thirty minutes (around 19.53pm UK time) time a correction burn will take place. Another will occur at 00.37 UK time.

Tonight’s blackout (due to the re-entry and plasma around the craft) is expected to be from about 00.53 and last six minutes.

Fist bump! 👊

The Artemis II crew is now under 35,000 miles from Earth. The astronauts are preparing the spacecraft for reentry and the weather is looking good for splashdown. pic.twitter.com/jYNlo0xoNu

— NASA (@NASA) April 10, 2026

Published a couple of hours ago – Scott Manley on the pros and cons of the various types of heat shield and the latest design for Artemis.

As Scott says, it remains to be seen whether the latest heat shield is successful tonight.

The weather around the landing site area is not too bad at the moment. Its just a little misty currently.

Earth is now just under 29,000 miles. Orion’s velocity has increased to just over 8,000mph.

The quality of the live stream is now so good earth looks splendid in the midst of space.

Again I’m watching the NASA’s Artemis II Live Views from Orion which has a max of 720p60 yet its got more detail than the other – NASA’s Artemis II Live Mission Coverage (Official Broadcast) – which I’m running at 1080p HD and yet the quality isn’t quite as good as the other.

MCC just announced (21.57pm UK time) splashdown is in 3 hours and ten minutes.

Just a thought these posts are not meant to be professional or have any depth of knowledge on rocketry or moon missions etc. Its just a matter of having something to look forward to and to write up about it as things happen. Its good for me even if its not good for others!

The live view from the solar panel of the service module has just changed. (22.00 UK time).

In just a few minutes the crew will undertake a checklist for re-entry and then put on their spacesuits.

Live picture quality looking great ATM.

The earth is growing quite fast! Orion is speeding home! This is the same sort of anticipation and excitement we had for the Apollo missions. Nerve wracking and biting fingernails and hoping everything will be perfect!

How long will the live stream from the solar arrays last? Expect it’ll either be after a certain velocity or even just before they eject the service module. When Orion left earth on its trajectory for the moon it was doing 25,000 miles per hour and the cameras were still recording! A descent is very different however and I imagine the cameras might have to end recording much earlier.

26,000 miles to earth. Velocity 8,600mph.

Its been said Jared Isaacman, NASA’s Administrator, has just touched down aboard USS John P. Murtha, in advance of Orion’s splashdown.

Are we seeing the bulge in earth’s shape? Its not a perfect sphere but has a bulge around the equatorial area. Is that why the planet looks ‘out of shape’?

22.30pm UK time. Solar arrays repositioned to show earth better as it was dipping below the boundary of the screen!

MCC just announced the crew have put on their suits and are now checking these for integrity and leaks. The next major stage in the descent is the separation of both service and crew modules (in just under two hours time) at 6.33pm (00.33am UK time) followed four minute later by a 19 second burn to induce a change in velocity.

The crew have said they have a CO2 alarm… MCC said that had been observed before and it should go away. MCC said they will check back in five minutes and see if it has resolved.

Earth getting much bigger! The ‘bulge’ is still visible.

Camera angle just changed again (or solar panel adjusted rather).

Its a good move. A first I didn’t think it was, but it is great because having a solar array set against the earth has provided a means of observing Orion’s movement towards the planet! One can actually see the craft moving towards the earth! Not only that it appears the earth’s rotation can just be discerned too (or maybe its the clouds moving).

Now 20,000 miles to earth/splashdown.

These views are the best I have seen! They’re miles better than the lunar fly by too! Its f**cking brilliant!

I think the bulge may be due to the lens on the Go Pros cameras.

Can see a face on earth! Looks like a cat or something of that sort…

Why has NASA gone and spoilt the view?

Earth was moving out of view maybe it was getting beyond the range the camera/solar array could move?

Another adjustment and we are back to what seems an earlier view…

The give-away is at least the ‘cat face’ can still be seen. Indeed its getting more and more like a cat’s face!

16,000 miles to earth. 10,700 mph. 23.20 UK time the crew of Orion just announced they had completed their space suits and checks and are ready for this critical phase of the mission.