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Artemis II Flight Day 9: Crew Prepares to Come Home
nasa ^ | 04/09/2026

Posted on 04/09/2026 12:28:44 PM PDT by BenLurkin

On their last full day in space, the Artemis II crew began the morning with “Lonesome Drifter” by Charley Crockett as they approached Earth at 147,337 miles.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will continue preparing for their return to Earth set for Friday, April 10, including reviewing re-entry and splashdown procedures and conducting a return trajectory correction burn.

Cabin configuration for re-entry

Koch and Hansen will begin by stowing equipment they have had out during the mission, removing cargo and locker netting, installing and adjusting crew seats to ensure all items are secured before their return to Earth. As part of the day’s activities, the crew will review the latest weather briefing, recovery force status, and entry timeline. Throughout the day, they also will work through post‑landing operations.

Another push home

Orion’s thrusters are scheduled to ignite for the second return trajectory correction burn at 9:53 p.m. EDT to fine‑tune the spacecraft’s path toward Earth. The maneuver will further refine Orion’s trajectory and ensure the spacecraft remains aligned for atmospheric re-entry. During the burn, Hansen will review the procedure steps and monitor Orion’s guidance, navigation, and propulsion systems.

Preparing for splashdown

As Artemis II nears its return to Earth, NASA teams on the ground are completing final preparations for Orion’s re-entry and splashdown around 8:07 p.m. (5:07 p.m. PDT) Friday, April 10, off the coast of San Diego.

(Excerpt) Read more at nasa.gov ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
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1 posted on 04/09/2026 12:28:44 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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Photo of their "experiment" from behind the moon.


2 posted on 04/09/2026 12:30:29 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

Have they safely stowed the moon sample rocks?


3 posted on 04/09/2026 12:50:56 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom ( )
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To: BenLurkin

I hope ICE is on the recovery ship, waiting for the Canadian.


4 posted on 04/09/2026 12:55:29 PM PDT by llevrok (Voter apathy wins elections for liberals.)
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To: BenLurkin

A remarkably successful mission thus far. Just need the crew safely on earth again to cap it off.


5 posted on 04/09/2026 12:56:38 PM PDT by TheDon (Remember the J6 political prisoners! Remember Ashli Babbitt!)
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To: BenLurkin

With suns activity as high as it has been then these astronauts have really taken some radiation. I would not be surprised if their lives end up being notably shortened.


6 posted on 04/09/2026 12:57:17 PM PDT by Revel
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To: Revel

I’m just wondering if she’s pregnant. Sooner or later we’ve got to find out if that’s possible. This mission would have been a good opportunity since the crew has few other tasks.


7 posted on 04/09/2026 1:02:58 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
🚽 Have four unoccupied bathroom stalls ready! 😉

8 posted on 04/09/2026 1:03:52 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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One more day and they can take the clothes-pin off their nose an breath non-stinking fresh air!


9 posted on 04/09/2026 1:42:14 PM PDT by curious7
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To: BenLurkin
Let’s do an experiment!

Let’s run the moon / earth pictures that Artemis II took through Google’s Deep Fake AI Engine! Do you think they’ll come out as “Fakes” like all the Apollo pictures?
10 posted on 04/09/2026 2:14:47 PM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: BenLurkin

As bad as it must stink in there due to the backed up toilet and ten days, and her bow wow looks, those guys would have to be real horn dogs to take one for the team like that. She won’t be birthin’ no baby any time soon.


11 posted on 04/09/2026 2:15:57 PM PDT by CircleCityHamburgerMan (Death to demons)
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To: Jan_Sobieski

Give it up. Take your meds.


12 posted on 04/09/2026 2:28:21 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: Jan_Sobieski

“Wouldn’t it be great to make everybody think we landed on the moon?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6MOnehCOUw


13 posted on 04/09/2026 2:42:27 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: Jan_Sobieski

Have our friends in the conspiracy loon community come up with a theory about where Orion went after it took off if it didn’t go to the moon?


14 posted on 04/09/2026 3:11:42 PM PDT by JSM_Liberty
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To: BenLurkin

Were there any cabin crew docking procedures rehearsed ?


15 posted on 04/09/2026 3:27:52 PM PDT by Candor7 ( Ask not for whom the Trump Trolls,He trolls for thee!<img src="" width=300</img><a href="">tag</a>))
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To: Candor7
Dunno, but her skin sure looks great on the return trip...


16 posted on 04/09/2026 4:09:48 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sex_In_Space_explained_by_simpleshow_foundation.webm


17 posted on 04/09/2026 4:24:41 PM PDT by Candor7 ( Ask not for whom the Trump Trolls,He trolls for thee!<img src="" width=300</img><a href="">tag</a>))
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To: BenLurkin

It will be interesting to see if sperms behave the same in space. Also when they meet eggs.


18 posted on 04/09/2026 4:53:12 PM PDT by paudio (Charlie Kirk is this era's MLK)
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