Artemis II astronauts struggle to walk as gravity hits them after 'bullseye' Pacific Ocean splashdown following their historic moon mission https://t.co/0p2YVofK7S
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) April 11, 2026
NASA’s Artemis II astronauts returned safely after a lunar mission but required assistance walking as they readjusted to gravity following days in space.
Astronauts from Artemis II safely returned to Earth after a 10-day journey around the moon, completing a “textbook touchdown” in the Pacific Ocean. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—were recovered by U.S. Navy personnel and transported to a recovery ship for medical checks.
Despite the successful landing, astronauts needed assistance walking after readjusting to gravity following days in space. Officials said the mission pushed human endurance, with risks including muscle loss and bone weakening. NASA described the crew as “the ambassadors from humanity to the stars,” praising their performance during the mission.
Commander Wiseman shared a reflection after landing, saying, “This planet is impossibly beautiful from every altitude I’ve seen it…surface to 250,000 miles.” The mission included a high-speed re-entry, communication blackout, and scientific observations, marking a major step in future lunar exploration efforts.