The Artemis II crew survived liftoff, radiation fields and a lunar flyby. But a former NASA astronaut says Friday's reentry could be the most dangerous moment of all.

On April 10, 2026, NASA’s Artemis 2 mission will see astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at a record-breaking speed of 23,840 mph. This incredible feat is part of the Artemis program’s ambitious goal to return astronauts to the Moon and beyond.

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.

Despite problems during the unpiloted Artemis I reentry, the Artemis II crew is confident their heat shield will protect them during a fiery descent to Earth.

Artemis II astronauts return Friday after first crewed moon flyby in 50 years, with NASA targeting an 8:07 p.m. Eastern splashdown.

Still marveling over their moon mission, the Artemis II astronauts received a thunderous welcome home Saturday from hundreds who took part in NASA's lunar comeback that set a record for deep space travel.