Cheering crowds gather across California as Artemis II astronauts return to Earth - PHOTOS

11 Apr 2026 07:07
11 Apr 2026 07:13

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Cheering crowds gather across California as Artemis II astronauts return to Earth - PHOTOS

A young boy cheers at the San Diego Air and Space Museum during a watch party as a crowd watches a live broadcast of the return of the Artemis II crew to Earth on Friday. Apu Gomes/AFP/Getty Images

Across California, people gathered to watch live as the Artemis II mission’s astronauts hurtled back to Earth aboard the Orion capsule on Friday evening.

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Upon their safe landing, cheers broke out in earnest.

People look on during a watch party for the return of the Artemis II crew in the Orion capsule in Coronado, California, on Friday.

Gregory Bull/AP

People watch a live broadcast of the return of the Artemis II crew to Earth at the San Diego Air and Space Museum during a watch party on Friday.

Apu Gomes/AFP/Getty Images

People watch a live broadcast of the Artemis II mission's splashdown during a watch party at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, California, on Friday.

Mario Tama/Getty Images