Daily Briefing (United States) — 2026-04-11

Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific off San Diego, ending a 10-day mission that carried its crew on a record-setting distant lunar flyby and returned them safely to Earth.

Crowds in San Diego and Downey gathered at museums and watch parties to see the Artemis II Orion capsule parachute into the Pacific about 50 miles off San Diego at 5:07 p.m., with attendees cheering as the capsule bobbed in the water awaiting crew retrieval.

During a historic lunar flyby, Artemis II astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft Integrity photographed and described features on the Moon's far side and observed an Earthset and a total solar eclipse.

CanLit Responds says its boycott of the Giller Prize is over after receiving confirmation that the prize no longer has sponsorship ties to Scotiabank, Indigo Books and the Azrieli Foundation; the Giller Foundation did not respond to requests for comment.