SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Governor Gavin Newsom is celebrating the safe return of four astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II mission after they splashed down off the Southern California coast, marking a historic milestone in human spaceflight.
The crew touched town Friday in the Pacific Ocean, where NASA engineers and a U.S. Navy team based out of Naval Base San Diego recovered both the astronauts and the Orion spacecraft shortly after 5 p.m.
In a statement, Newsom praised California’s key role in the mission, highlighting the state’s workforce and innovation ecosystems that helped make it possible. He called the splashdown a “full circle moment.”
“Here in California, we’re proud to anchor the historic NASA Artemis II mission — and proud of our state’s role in making this mission a success,” Newsom stated. “For the over 16,000 California workers, 500 companies, and three NASA centers who worked on the mission, the crew splashing down off the California Coast is a full-circle moment and point of immense pride.”
USS John P. Murtha returns to Southern California carrying Orion spacecraft
The Artemis II mission marks NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years and the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, reaching 252,756 miles before returning safely.
California played a key role throughout the mission, with Newsom mentioning contributions from Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards, Ames Research Center in Mountain View, as well as hundred of private companies supporting spacecraft development, engineering and mission operations.
Newsom said the achievement reflects the Golden State’s leadership in aerospace and innovation, showing California’s influence in shaping the future of space exploration.
“Artemis II is a unifying moment for all of us here on Earth — that we can shoot for the stars and strive for a brighter future, for all,” stated the governor.
The recent mission to the Moon and back is expected to pave the way for future lunar landings and eventual missions to Mars.
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