After nearly 10 days in space, the Artemis II capsule carrying a four-astronaut crew tore back through Earth's atmosphere and splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, bringing to a close humanity's first journey to the vicinity of the moon in more than 50 years. NASA's gumdrop-shaped Orion capsule, named Integrity, drifted under parachutes into waters off the Southern California coast shortly after 5pm PT (1am Irish time), ending a mission that carried its crew farther into space than any humans had travelled before. The…

After nearly 10 days in space, the Artemis II capsule carrying four astronauts tore back through Earth's atmosphere and splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, closing out humanity's first journey into the moon's neighborhood in more than 50 years. NASA's gumdrop-shaped Orion capsule, named Integrity, drifted under parachutes into the ocean off Southern California shortly after 5pm PT (1am Irish time), bringing to an end a mission that carried its crew farther into space than any people had traveled before. Covering…

With Earth drawing closer and a fiery homecoming ahead, the four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission reflected on a voyage unlike any before it, describing the strain, wonder and emotion of preparing to plunge back through the atmosphere during their first press conference from space. The Artemis II crew have been travelling in their Orion capsule since lifting off from Florida last week, and are scheduled to splash down off the southern California coast tomorrow after reaching the Moon earlier this week. Their route…

Humanity’s next chapter in deep space is edging into view as the four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission cross into the Moon's gravitational sphere of influence, riding a trajectory that will soon carry them above the shadowed lunar far side and place them farther from Earth than any people have ever travelled. The Artemis II crew, aboard their Orion capsule since lifting off from Florida last week, are expected to wake at about 10.50am ET (3.05pm Irish time) for the mission’s sixth day in flight. At 7:05pm ET (12.05am…

The Moon was looming larger outside NASA’s Orion capsule on Saturday as the crew of Artemis II entered the third day of a mission billed as a crucial step toward putting humans back on the lunar surface later this decade. NASA said the four-member Artemis crew has now crossed the halfway mark between Earth and the Moon as Orion presses on toward its scheduled lunar flyby. "We're halfway there," the space agency posted on social media. NASA also published the first images captured from inside Orion, among them a striking…

With a green light from mission controllers, NASA’s four Artemis astronauts are now cleared to leave Earth orbit and begin a long-awaited return to the Moon, setting up the first crewed lunar flyby in more than half a century. NASA Flight Director Jeff Radigan informed the crew that the mission management team had approved the engine burn aboard their Orion capsule, a critical step that will place the spacecraft on course for the Moon. The five minute and 49 second burn is set for 7:49pm Eastern Time (00:49am), a maneuver…

What began as a family vacation from northeastern Maine quickly turned into something far rarer for Jason Heath: a front-row seat to history as NASA prepares to send Artemis II into space. "It's definitely cool to know that humans are going further than ever before," said the 40-year-old shipbuilder, speaking from Cocoa Beach, the bustling Florida resort near the NASA launch site where the towering orange-and-white rocket is due to thunder into the sky. "It's definitely pretty cool to know that I'll be around," he said.…

More than 50 years after astronauts last flew to the Moon, NASA’s Artemis II mission is poised to send a crew on a lunar flyby, opening a new era in human spaceflight. The mission is due to lift off from Florida tonight. The launch window is set to open at 6.24pm (11.24pm Irish time). Here is what to know about the closely watched flight that is expected to begin a fresh chapter in space exploration. The goal The programme is designed to put Americans back on the Moon, build a lasting presence there and lay the groundwork…

Four astronauts chosen for NASA’s Artemis II mission are preparing to cross the next threshold in the push to return humans to the Moon: arrival in Florida and the final sprint of pre-launch work for the first crewed journey to deep space in more than five decades. Commander Reid Wiseman, Mission Pilot Victor Glover and Christina Koch will launch alongside Canadian astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen from Kennedy Space Center as soon as 1 April, riding atop NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. They will travel inside an…

Muslims across the world are scanning the skies for the slim crescent that marks the start of Ramadan, with a growing list of countries setting Thursday as the first day of fasting while others await final moon-sighting results. As of Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, authorities from Oman to Indonesia and Malaysia have confirmed a Thursday start, while Saudi Arabia — whose decision influences millions — is expected to announce later in the day. Oman became the first Gulf Cooperation Council state to set Thursday as the beginning of…