NASA is preparing for the safe return of the Artemis II mission after successfully completing its 10-day journey around the Moon.

The spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California, on Friday, April 10 at around 8 PM EDT (5:37 AM IST, April 11). NASA officials have confirmed that all mission operations are going smoothly and are on track.

Before re-entry, the astronauts will perform several important tasks. These include preparing their special suits that help regulate blood flow during landing, checking the spacecraft’s condition, and practicing manual control of the vehicle.

The crew will also align the spacecraft correctly to ensure proper solar power by pointing it toward Earth and positioning it relative to the Sun.

According to NASA, weather conditions for the splashdown are favorable, with stable winds and minimal chances of storms. This will help ensure a safe recovery of the astronauts.

During the mission, the crew has sent a large amount of data back to Earth, totaling over 300 gigabytes, helping scientists learn more about deep space travel.