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The countdown begins! Artemis II faces extreme test, returning to Earth at 40,000 km/h, "solar" temperatures and the mysteries of NASA's shield
2026-04-10 14:02:49 / MISTERE&KURIOZITETE
NASA's historic Artemis II mission is entering its most critical phase as the crew of four astronauts prepares to return to Earth after a successful mission around the Moon.
While their journey has taken them further than any other human mission in space and even brought them into the complete isolation of the far side of the Moon, their greatest challenge lies ahead: the dangerous reentry of the Orion spacecraft into Earth's atmosphere.
This process is considered the most difficult test for the vehicle and crew, as extreme speeds and temperatures can jeopardize the mission if the protection systems do not function as designed.
Speeds of 40,000 km/h and temperatures of thousands of degrees
Upon reentry, Orion will enter the atmosphere at speeds exceeding 40,000 kilometers per hour, or more than 11 kilometers per second. The extreme compression of the air around the capsule creates a fiery plasma envelope, with temperatures that can reach up to 10,000 degrees Celsius.
The outer surface of the spacecraft is expected to heat up to about 2,760 degrees Celsius, a temperature almost half that of the surface of the Sun. Under these conditions, the plasma that forms around the capsule blocks radio waves, causing a temporary loss of communication with Earth for several minutes.
Heat shield and data from Artemis 1
Crucial to the crew's safety is the heat shield, made of a special material called Avcoat, which is designed to gradually dissipate as heat is absorbed. However, during the Artemis 1 mission in 2022, engineers discovered that small pieces of the material had broken off in more than 100 places.
Analysis showed that gases created within the material became trapped, increasing pressure and causing microcracks. One contributing factor was the "reentry bypass" process, in which the capsule entered the atmosphere, briefly emerged, and then re-entered.
New trajectory to limit risk
For the Artemis II mission, NASA chose to modify the reentry profile, avoiding the "bounce" process in the atmosphere. Orion will enter at a steeper angle, reducing the time spent in the area where the problem occurred and limiting the pressures on the heat shield.
Although some experts express reservations about whether this solution is a long-term answer, NASA seems confident that the modifications are sufficient for the safe return of the crew. It is noted that even during Artemis 1, despite the wear and tear, temperatures inside the capsule remained at safe levels.
The capsule is expected to fall into the Pacific Ocean, near San Diego, at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Holy Saturday, Albanian time.
"You've seen a lot, but we bring even more"
Speaking to the media from space during their return to Earth, mission pilot Victor Glover said the crew is looking forward to sharing with the world what they experienced and recorded during the historic flight around the Moon.
Asked during a press conference Wednesday evening about the return process, Glover said: "We have to go back. You've already seen a lot of data, but we're bringing the most important ones with us. There are even more pictures and even more stories to share."
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