Artemis II mission set for historic reentry and splashdown after record-breaking journey

After an extraordinary journey encompassing more than 800,000 kilometers, the Artemis II mission is poised to make its return to Earth this Friday evening. The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, has been home to its four-member crew since its launch on April 1 and is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean before splashing down near San Diego, California.

The splashdown is scheduled for April 10 at 5:07 PM PDT, or 00:07 UTC on April 11. Integrity will initiate its reentry sequence at 4:54 PM PDT, reaching speeds exceeding 38,000 km/h—marking the highest velocity achieved by a crewed spacecraft during atmospheric reentry since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Launched atop the Space Launch System (SLS) from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39B, Artemis II took off on April 1 at 6:35 PM EDT. The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. The mission’s launch went smoothly, with all SLS and Orion systems performing as anticipated, which led to the cancellation of several trajectory corrections due to the exceptionally precise launch trajectory.

Following its successful launch, Integrity executed a translunar injection burn—marking the first such maneuver in over five decades—before conducting various scientific experiments and tests throughout the mission. One of the highlights came on Flight Day 6, when the crew performed a lunar flyby, achieving a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans in space at 406,771 kilometers from Earth. During this flyby, the crew observed and documented both near and far sides of the Moon and experienced a stunning 57-minute solar eclipse as the Moon obscured the Sun.

As the return journey commenced, the astronauts conducted additional experiments, including a demonstration on radiation shielding, and engaged in discussions with scientists on Earth about their findings.

The day of reentry will involve final preparations for Integrity’s approach to Earth. Crew members will secure the spacecraft while reviewing safety procedures and weather conditions necessary for a safe landing. Factors like wave height, wind speed, and visibility will be considered to ensure optimal landing conditions.

Integrity’s trajectory correction burns, which are essential for reentry, will ensure the spacecraft remains on course without requiring a deorbit burn, as its return trajectory was established during the initial translunar injection. As the spacecraft prepares for its descent, the crew will strap in, donning their orange pressure suits in anticipation of their return.

The reentry will begin at an altitude of 122 kilometers, during which the spacecraft will enter a communications blackout for about six minutes as it experiences peak heating. Following the blackout, the crew will regain communication, and the parachute deployment sequence will commence. The capsule will slow its descent before finally splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

Recovery teams stationed aboard the USS John P. Murtha will be on standby to assist the crew once they return to the surface. The crew will undergo medical evaluations before eventually heading back to Houston. Meanwhile, Integrity will be recovered and transported back to shore for further analysis.

NASA previously faced challenges with the heat shield of Orion during the Artemis I mission, which prompted a comprehensive investigation. For Artemis II, the same heat shield design has been used, albeit with modifications to the reentry trajectory to reduce the heating that caused issues during the earlier mission.

With this historic flight, Artemis II marks a significant milestone in NASA’s ambitions to return humans to the Moon and possibly pave the way for future missions to Mars.