NASA -- April 7, 2026" The historic Artemis II mission has reached its furthest point from Earth and is now officially on its return journey. After a successful flyby of the far side of the moon on April 6, the four-person crew—including North Carolina State graduate Christina Koch—is picking up speed for a scheduled splashdown later this week.
The View from the Far Side
On Monday, the Orion spacecraft traveled further into deep space than any human-rated vehicle in history, reaching a distance of over 250,000 miles from Earth. During the maneuver behind the moon, the crew experienced approximately 40 minutes of radio silence before emerging to a spectacular "Earthrise" view.
This milestone marks the completion of the most distant leg of the mission. You can view the official NASA footage of this historic moment here: NASA’s Artemis II Crew Flies Around the Moon.
Western North Carolina’s Eyes on the Mission
The mission's success relies on a global network of tracking stations, and Western North Carolina is playing a vital role. The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), located in the Pisgah National Forest, remains locked onto the Orion capsule using its 26-meter radio telescopes.
As we detailed in our previous coverage, From Pisgah to the Far Side: WNC’s Eyes on the Moon, PARI’s participation marks a return to its historic roots as a NASA tracking station. Local engineers and scientists are working 24/7 to monitor the spacecraft’s "Doppler shift," ensuring its trajectory back to Earth remains precise.
Tracking the Return in Real-Time
As of today, April 7, the Orion spacecraft has officially exited the lunar sphere of influence. It is now being pulled by Earth's gravity, which will continue to accelerate the craft until it hits the atmosphere for re-entry.
You can follow the spacecraft’s altitude, speed, and exact position in real-time through NASA’s AROW (Artemis Real-time Orbit Website): Live Artemis Tracker.
What's Next: Splashdown
The mission is currently on track for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego.
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
Time: Approximately 8:06 PM EDT
Image: NASA