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Artemis II Crew Reports Smoke Alarm and Fuel Leak, Says Orion Performed Well

The mishaps highlight fixes NASA will carry out before planned lunar landings later this decade.

Overview

  • - The crew disclosed that a smoke alarm went off late in the flight and that they also saw a fuel‑system pressure leak and a toilet problem, with the smoke detector flicking on and off.
  • - The astronauts said they brought the situation under control within minutes by sticking to checklists and coordinating with Mission Control in Houston.
  • - Pilot Victor Glover described reentry as 13 minutes and 36 seconds of heavy forces, with the heat shield guarding the capsule at more than 2,700°C while it traveled near 40,000 km/h.
  • - After splashdown, the four are undergoing medical checks and readjusting to gravity, and Christina Koch said she woke up thinking she was still floating.
  • - Commander Reid Wiseman called Orion flightworthy and said the mission, the first near the Moon since 1972, strengthens plans for a crewed lunar landing later this decade.