# Prediction Market Users Await Artemis II Mission Splashdown
As anticipation builds for the Artemis II mission's conclusion, prediction market users are keenly monitoring developments surrounding the historic lunar flyby. Scheduled to end with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean this Friday evening, this 10-day mission marks a significant milestone in NASA's ongoing efforts to return humans to the Moon. With the mission's end drawing near, excitement is palpable among space enthusiasts and investors alike.
Background Context and Key Details
Launched on November 20, 2023, Artemis II is NASA's first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo program ended in the early 1970s. The mission has an ambitious agenda, including a lunar flyby that will take the spacecraft past the Moon before returning to Earth. The crew, which consists of four astronauts, has been tasked with testing critical systems and protocols that will pave the way for future lunar exploration.
As the mission nears its conclusion, the focus shifts to the anticipated splashdown. NASA has selected a recovery zone in the Pacific Ocean, where a fleet of ships is on standby to assist with the recovery of the spacecraft and its crew. The splashdown is not merely a technical milestone; it signifies the successful completion of a critical phase in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually pave the way for human missions to Mars.
