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4w ago

Artemis II Crew Prepares for Friday Pacific Splashdown After Lunar Flyby

NASA will use a new entry profile to cut heat on Orion’s shield based on Artemis I findings.

IN SPACE – APRIL 04: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.) In this handout image provided by NASA, NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft’s main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon on April 4, 2026. NASA’s Artemis II mission will take Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Orion, which is targeting an 8:07 p.m. EDT Friday splashdown off San Diego, will be met by U.S. Navy recovery teams led by the USS John P. Murtha and supported by aircraft.
  • Reentry will push the capsule to about 23,840 mph through superheated plasma that can briefly block radio contact as the heat shield protects the crew.
  • NASA adopted a more direct entry and adjusted how heat-shield material is applied after the uncrewed Artemis I showed more charring than expected, reducing thermal load at the cost of some landing-zone flexibility.
  • The crew, which on Monday traveled beyond 252,000 miles from Earth to surpass Apollo 13’s distance record, described watching Earth slip behind the Moon during a far‑side eclipse as a profound sight.
  • About 42 minutes before landing the service module will separate, then drogue, pilot, and three main parachutes will slow Orion to roughly 17 mph for splashdown before divers secure the capsule for recovery.