How to watch the Artemis II astronauts return to Earth
NASA's Artemis II mission is concluding with the crewed Orion capsule returning to Earth via Pacific Ocean splashdown. The mission marks a significant milestone in NASA's lunar exploration program, with the crew having traveled farther from Earth than any humans in decades. Coverage focuses on the technical challenges of reentry, the historic nature of the mission, and practical information for viewing the return.
Left-leaning outlets emphasize the scientific and historical significance of the mission, providing extensive visual documentation and technical analysis of the reentry process. Coverage highlights NASA's engineering solutions to previous mission challenges, such as heat shield improvements, and celebrates the achievement as a major step in space exploration.
Center and independent sources take a balanced approach, combining technical explanations of the splashdown procedure with practical viewing information. These outlets present the mission as an important national achievement while acknowledging the inherent risks involved in the reentry phase.
Right-leaning outlets frame Artemis II as a source of national pride and unity, emphasizing the inspirational aspects of human space exploration. Some sources highlight the mission's significance as a demonstration of American capability and technological achievement.
Key Differences
- Left outlets provide more extensive technical documentation and scientific detail about mission systems, while right outlets emphasize inspirational and unifying themes.
- Right-leaning coverage is notably lighter in volume (6 sources vs. 17 left-leaning), suggesting differential editorial prioritization of the story.
- Center sources focus more on practical viewer information and balanced risk assessment, whereas left sources lean toward celebratory documentation of the achievement.
Left(18)
New York TimesAApr 10, 6:00 PM
See Photos From All 10 Days of NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission
Over 10 days, the astronauts of NASA’s lunar flyby mission have achieved the near impossible.
CBS NewsBApr 10, 10:04 PM
Artemis II returning to Earth for splashdown to end historic moon mission
NASA's Artemis II astronauts are set to return to Earth with a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean after making a high-speed reentry through the atmosphere.
The VergeBApr 10, 8:08 PM
How to watch the Artemis II astronauts return to Earth
The Artemis II crew – (from left) Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Pilot Victor Glover, and Commander Reid Wiseman – pause for a group photo inside the Orion spacec
NBC NewsBApr 10, 4:03 PM
Previewing Artemis II's return to Earth
Previewing Artemis II's return to Earth
NBC NewsBApr 10, 1:05 PM
Coverage of Artemis II's return to Earth
Watch live coverage as astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen return from their 10-day mission around the moon.
CBS NewsBApr 10, 7:38 PM
NASA drops Artemis II moon mission playlist with astronauts' wake-up songs
The moon music tradition started more than 50 years ago, NASA said as it shared the Artemis II crew's playlist this week.
LA TimesAApr 9, 10:00 AM
A cracked heat shield rattled NASA after Artemis I. Now, Artemis II will put the fix to the test
When Artemis II reenters earth's atmosphere, NASA will test out a new trajectory, calculated after the heat shield for its moon rocket was damaged during a test mission.
NPRAApr 10, 12:02 PM
VP Vance to lead U.S. team in Iran peace talks. And, Artemis II to return to Earth
Vice President Vance is heading to Pakistan to lead a U.S. team in talks aimed at ending the war in Iran. And, Artemis II is set to return to Earth today.
MSNBCCApr 10, 9:24 PM
The Artemis II mission will help us better know the moon — and the human body
Medical data from the Artemis II crew will be crucial if humans are to fly farther into space. The post The Artemis II mission will help us better know the moon — and the human body appeared first on
NBC NewsBApr 10, 3:30 PM
See Augmented Reality Visualization of Artemis II Re-entry to Earth
As the crew of Artemis II prepares to return to Earth, NBC’s Tom Costello walks through the re-entry process, step by step, using augmented reality.
LA TimesAApr 6, 5:41 PM
An emotional Artemis II crew flies past moon, traveling farther than any humans in history
NASA's Artemis II crew described the far side of the moon in eloquent detail, named a crater after Cmdr. Reid Wiseman's late wife and spoke of their immense love for Earth.
CBS NewsBApr 10, 9:21 PM
Analyzing the Artemis II mission ahead of splashdown
The world found inspiration and wonder in new images of the moon from Artemis II. The crew is set to splash down on Friday. Senior national correspondent Mark Strassmann reports from the Johnson Space
LA TimesAApr 10, 2:08 PM
How to watch NASA's moon mission splash down off San Diego today
Southern Californians likely won't be able to see reentry or splashdown in person, but NASA will livestream it. Here's what you should know.
The GuardianAApr 10, 10:22 PM
Artemis II splashdown: Orion capsule scheduled to land off California coast at just after 5pm local time – live updates
Follow the latest updates as astronauts prepare for fiery re-entry in Earth’s atmosphere after 10-day mission to fly around the moon Artemis II crew to end record-setting mission with splashdown Si
HuffPostCApr 10, 8:41 AM
Artemis II Astronauts Hurtle Home From Moon Toward Splashdown
If all goes well, the crew will end up bobbing safely in the ocean aboard its Orion capsule, dubbed Integrity, shortly after 8 p.m. ET off the coast of San Diego.
SalonCApr 10, 2:53 PM
Here’s what the Artemis II crew is eating aboard the Orion spacecraft
Barbecued beef brisket, broccoli au gratin, cobbler and a mango-peach smoothie are just a few items on the menu
New York TimesAApr 10, 9:47 PM
Artemis II Astronauts Are Set to Arrive Home
Also, Iran adds a new condition as JD Vance heads to peace talks. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
The AtlanticAApr 9, 11:00 AM
States Are Learning the Wrong Lesson From the ‘Mississippi Miracle’
A phonics-based curriculum is only one part of how Mississippi went from worst to first in education. The other part is much harder to pull off.
Center(9)
The DispatchAApr 10, 10:53 AM
Artemis II, and NASA’s Return to the Moon
Plus: Iran’s Hormuz tolls raise tensions, Russia supposedly agrees to Orthodox Easter ceasefire, and you should go fishing for Chinese submarine drones!
AxiosAApr 6, 6:01 PM
Artemis II just set a new distance-from-Earth record
Artemis II's four astronauts have officially gone where no one has gone before, setting on Monday a new distance-from-Earth record for human spaceflight. Why it matters: Artemis II broke Apollo 13's 2
USA TodayBApr 10, 10:09 AM
Artemis II crew faces risky reentry before splashdown on Earth - USA Today
Artemis II crew faces risky reentry before splashdown on Earth USA Today
The HillBApr 9, 9:47 PM
Watch live: Artemis II crew holds press conference from space
The Artemis II crew will give remarks from the Orion spacecraft Thursday evening, just days after the four astronauts traveled farther into space than anyone before them. The crew — Cmdr. Reid Wiseman
Al JazeeraBApr 10, 8:32 PM
NASA’s Artemis II prepares for splashdown on Earth
NASA’s Artemis II astronauts are preparing for re-entry
PBS NewsHourAApr 10, 8:23 PM
How will NASA get the Artemis II crew safely back on Earth? Here's the science behind splashdown
While splashdown can be harrowing – the spacecraft will hurdle through the atmosphere faster than the speed of sound and reach temperatures in the thousands of degrees – NASA has been doing it for dec
PBS NewsHourAApr 9, 10:45 PM
News Wrap: NASA optimistic ahead of Artemis II reentry
In our news wrap Thursday, NASA says it's feeling optimistic as final preparations are underway for the reentry of the Artemis astronauts, the Justice Department is reportedly investigating whether th
The HillBApr 10, 9:00 PM
Watch live: Artemis II crew to splash down after lunar flyby mission
The Artemis II crew is set to return home Friday, with the four astronauts completing their 10-day trip to the moon and back after they traveled farther into space than any human in history. The crew
The HillBApr 10, 1:43 PM
Artemis II splashdown: How to watch Orion capsule return home
Here's what to expect from recovery operations and how to watch live on NewsNation.
Right(7)
Daily WireCApr 10, 3:15 PM
LIVE UPDATES: Artemis II Crew Face Make-Or-Break Moment During Historic Return From Moon
National ReviewBApr 8, 10:30 AM
From the Earth to the Moon, and Back Again
The successful launch of Artemis II marks a moment of great hope.
RealClearPoliticsBApr 10, 3:01 PM
Shoot for the Moon: Artemis II Is an Important Step
Three enormous parachutes will open over the Pacific Ocean on April 10 and, God willing, bring the Artemis II mission's Orion capsule to a gentle but historic splashdown. No vehicle has ever carried h
BreitbartDApr 10, 9:48 AM
Artemis II Cleared to Return with Pacific Ocean Splashdown on Friday
The four astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II were making final preparations for their return to earth Friday after launching from Kennedy Space Center nearly 10 days ago. The post Artemis II Cleared t
Washington TimesCApr 10, 8:06 PM
How to watch NASA's Artemis II splashdown tonight, and what to expect
Four astronauts who flew farther from Earth than any humans in more than half a century are coming home tonight, and you can watch it live.
The Western JournalDApr 10, 9:07 PM
NASA's Artemis II Crew Prepares to Splash Down Off California Coast Friday After Successful Lunar Mission
The four-person crew of Artemis II is slated to splash down off the coast of San Diego on Friday night after a 10-day voyage that took them farther into space […] The post NASA's Artemis II Crew Prepa
RealClearPoliticsBApr 10, 6:44 PM
The Miracle and Mystery of Artemis II
A NASA-led mission that showcases competence and collective purpose-launched, improbably, under a government that rewards neither.
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