Artemis II Crew Prepares for Critical Re-entry and Pacific Splashdown

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:01:00 +0200

The Artemis II mission, featuring astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen, is approaching one of its most critical phases: re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. This historic 10-day mission included a lunar flyby, collection of scientific data, and capturing unprecedented images of the Moon. Despite the success so far, NASA emphasizes that the mission cannot be deemed fully successful until the crew is safely on the recovery ship. Safety concerns are heightened due to issues experienced during Artemis I, where the Orion spacecraft's heat shield eroded unexpectedly. During re-entry, the spacecraft will face temperatures up to 2,760 degrees Celsius and velocities over 10,657 meters per second. NASA has adjusted the reentry path and conducted extensive testing to ensure crew safety. Officials express confidence in the heat shield, parachutes, and recovery systems, while acknowledging lingering stress and anxiety associated