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NASA's Artemis II Crew Returns, Travels 1.12 Mn Km, Reaches Farthest Point from Earth at 406,778 Km

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCTeachingPrelims HighMains Medium
10 Apr 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:1.12 million km406,778 km40,000-42,000 kmph2028
Bodies:NASA
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Artemis II, NASA's first crewed Moon mission since Apollo, successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean with four astronauts after a 10-day journey.

2.The mission set a record for the farthest distance from Earth reached by humans (406,778 km) and traveled 1.12 million km, acting as a dress rehearsal for the planned 2028 Moon landing.

3.The Artemis program signifies a strategic shift towards establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon, a key focus area for Science & Tech and International Relations in competitive exams.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

NASA's Artemis II mission successfully concluded, marking humanity's return to lunar vicinity after 50+ years. The crew traveled 1.12 million km and reached a record 406,778 km from Earth, paving the way for a planned 2028 Moon landing and future lunar settlements.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Mission NameArtemis II
Splashdown DateApril 11, 2026
Total Distance Traveled1.12 million km (694,481 miles)
Farthest Point from Earth406,778 km (252,760 miles)
Previous Record HolderApollo 13 (1970)
Re-entry Speed40,000-42,000 kmph
Next Mission (Target)Artemis III Moon Landing (2028)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Mission Name: Artemis II
  • ›Splashdown Date: April 11, 2026
  • ›Target this Data: Farthest distance from Earth - 406,778 km (Artemis II vs. Apollo 13).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
  • ›Target this Mission: Artemis II as the first crewed mission of the Artemis program.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The Artemis II mission, which recently splashed down, is a program of which space agency?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding NASA's Artemis II mission:

1. It was the first crewed mission of the Artemis program.

2. The astronauts onboard traveled a greater total distance than the Apollo 17 mission.

3. The spacecraft reached a point farther from Earth than the Apollo 13 mission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what was the approximate speed of the Orion spacecraft during its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary significance of the successful Artemis II splashdown, as described in the article?

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