NASA’s Artemis 2 mission has captivated global attention, but the most thrilling part may be yet to unfold as the four astronauts are poised to make a spectacular return to Earth.
The Orion spacecraft is currently zooming through space towards Earth and is expected to enter the atmosphere at an impressive velocity of 11km per second, equivalent to 25,000mph or 40 times faster than a typical passenger jet.
Having launched on April 1 and journeyed farther from Earth than any previous human mission, the Orion crew is anticipated to make a dramatic re-entry this weekend, streaking across the skies.
Upon entry into Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 30 times the speed of sound, the spacecraft will need to decelerate to a safe landing speed. Its Avcoat heat shield, composed of silica, epoxy, and resins, is designed to withstand temperatures exceeding 10,000C created by the shockwave during re-entry.
As the crew module descends through the atmosphere, the Avcoat tiles will endure temperatures of around 2,700C, efficiently dissipating heat away from the spacecraft.
During the descent phase, the astronauts will experience 3.9Gs, almost four times the normal gravitational force, necessitating their training to endure the intense forces of re-entry. Once the spacecraft cools down, communication with mission control will be restored.
At approximately 35,000ft, similar to a commercial airliner’s cruising altitude, Orion will deploy its parachutes to gradually slow down for the final landing. The main chutes will fully open at around 6,000ft, with a gentle touchdown anticipated at 1,500ft.
The splashdown of Orion is scheduled off the coast of San Diego at 8.07pm Eastern Time on Friday or 1am UK time on Saturday, where a set of five airbags will inflate on top of the capsule to ensure the correct orientation if it lands upside down.
Subsequently, helicopters from the US Navy vessel John P. Murtha will retrieve the astronauts from the space capsule, providing them with a hero’s welcome and post-mission medical evaluations. Live coverage of the event can be accessed here.
