Meet the First Four Artemis Astronauts

Christina Koch

Christina Koch, Artemis 2 mission specialist, will make history by being the first woman to venture beyond Earth orbit and visit the lunar environment. A native of Grand Rapids, she will bring her knowledge of electrical engineering to the mission, along with her extensive experience working in space.

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The undercarriage of the Orion spacecraft is clearly visible in this image taken just before Artemis 2 splashdown

NASA Sets the Record Straight on That ‘Missing Chunk’ of Artemis 2’s Heat Shield

Social media users were quick to point out what looks like a large piece of missing material from the bottom of the spacecraft.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 13

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashes down, concluding the Artemis 2 mission on April 10, 2026

Picture Perfect: Artemis 2 Returns Home After a Stellar 10 Days in Space

Integrity has splashed down off the coast of San Diego, bringing the Artemis 2 astronauts home.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 10

Gizmodo’s Live Coverage of NASA’s Artemis 2 Mission

NASA's Artemis 2 mission returned to Earth on April 10, but you can still check out all of Gizmodo's live mission coverage.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe and George Dvorsky Apr 10

An artistic rendering of NASA's Orion spacecraft returning to Earth

Artemis 2 Is Coming in Hot Today—Here Are the 4 Critical Phases to Watch

Each step of the Orion spacecraft’s atmospheric reentry is essential to crew safety.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 10

During its lunar flyby, the Artemis 2 crew captured cratered terrain, revealing the Moon’s rugged, collision-scarred surface.

Gizmodo’s Favorite Photos From NASA’s Artemis 2 Mission

The Artemis 2 crew has beamed tons of incredible photos back to Earth. Here's a look at our favorite shots.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 9

The Orion spacecraft, the Moon, and Earth

With Artemis 2 Flying Home, NASA Is Already Teasing Artemis 3

The agency is already formulating the next Artemis mission, which will test integrated operations between the Orion spacecraft and one or both of NASA’s Moon landers.