"The Orion capsule carrying the Artemis II astronauts will be travelling at more than 11 km/s (40,000 km/h) when it reaches Earth’s atmosphere. This is 40 times faster than a passenger jet travels."

Wishing the Artemis II crew a safe return home!

https://theconversation.com/artemis-ii-crew-will-endure-3-000-c-on-re-entry-a-hypersonics-expert-explains-how-they-will-survive-280042

#news #science #space #ArtemisII

Artemis II crew will endure 3,000°C on re-entry. A hypersonics expert explains how they will survive

The high-speed, hypersonic and extremely hot re-entry is the last challenge the Artemis II crew will have to endure on their epic 10-day mission.

The Conversation

"As Artemis II nears its return to Earth, NASA teams on the ground are completing final preparations for Orion’s re-entry and splashdown around 8:07 p.m. (5:07 p.m. PDT) Friday, April 10, off the coast of San Diego."

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/09/artemis-ii-flight-day-9-crew-prepares-to-come-home/

#ArtemisII #NASA #space

Artemis II Flight Day 9: Crew Prepares to Come Home - NASA

On their last full day in space, the Artemis II crew began the morning with “Lonesome Drifter” by Charley Crockett as they approached Earth at 147,337 miles.

NASA

Two hours and 16 minutes until splashdown!

The Artemis II crew are 20,660 miles, or 33,250 km, from home now. Almost there!

https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/science/live-news/artemis-2-splashdown-astronauts-return

#ArtemisII #news #space #NASA #LiveUpdates

Artemis II astronauts splash down off California’s coast after a historic journey around the moon

After making history on their journey around the moon, NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen are coming home.

CNN
@stefan This is going to be epic. Think of the technological advances in camera coverage that we will now have witness to. GO!