Artemis II’s reentry will bring about new and amazing feats. The crew attempts to set the fastest record in human history.
Artemis II crew reflects on moon mission before splashdown
Upon their return home, the Artemis II crew shared reflections on their trip and their phone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Welcome back!
After a record-breaking journey, Artemis II’s lunar mission will conclude with a planned splashdown off the coast of California on Friday, April 10th. This mission set a record for the longest human distance from Earth, 252,756 miles. And if the crew reaches an estimated speed of 25,000 miles per hour during atmospheric re-entry, a new record for fastest speed in human history could be set.
Over the past 10 days, the world has watched as humans journeyed toward and back from Earth’s closest celestial neighbor for the first time in more than 50 years.
As we await the return of the four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule, let’s take a look back at some of the surprising facts about the mission.
What will the temperature be when it re-enters Orion’s atmosphere?
The crew module’s heat shield protects the spacecraft as it passes through Earth’s atmosphere.
Temperatures could reach more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NASA.
How far from Earth did the Artemis II mission reach?
On April 6, the Artemis II crew reached its maximum distance from Earth, 252,756 miles.
According to NASA, this is a new record for human spaceflight. “This milestone took the crew 4,111 miles further from Earth than the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.”
To put this into perspective, the distance around the Earth at the equator is approximately 24,901 miles.
What was the maximum speed reached during the Artemis II mission?
That is expected to occur during reentry.
Artemis II is expected to reach a maximum speed of about 25,000 miles per hour when it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere this afternoon, flight director Rick Henfling said. Reaching this speed would make it the fastest in human history, breaking the record of 24,816.1 mph set during the Apollo 10 mission in 1969.
How fast will the Orion capsule travel as it falls off the coast of California?
By the time it hits the water, the capsule should be traveling at about 17 miles per hour, NASA said.
How fast did the Artemis II Space Launch System go?
To reach orbit, the Artemis II SLS rocket crashed at more than 17,000 miles per hour. This is 22 times the speed of sound.
A little perspective: It takes 14 minutes to get from Miami to Anchorage, Alaska at 17,000 miles per hour.
How close did the astronauts aboard the Orion capsule get to the moon?
At the time of their closest approach during the lunar flight on April 6, the astronauts were between 4,067 and 4,070 miles above the surface of the moon.
How high was the rocket that launched the Artemis II mission?
The space launch system used for the Artemis II lunar mission was 322 feet tall.
This is shorter than the 363-foot-tall Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo program.
Summary of mission numbers for Artemis II
- Number of astronauts: 4
- Mission duration: 10 days
- Total mileage: 685,000 miles
- Thrust at launch: 8.8 million pounds
- First: First manned lunar flight in over 50 years. First female astronaut, first black astronaut and first Canadian astronaut to cross low Earth orbit.
When will the Artemis II astronauts return to Earth?
The Orion capsule will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on Friday, April 10, as the service module responsible for propulsion and maneuvering in space separates and burns up.
This action exposes the crew module’s heat shield, protecting the astronauts from the conditions the spacecraft will endure.
Orion is then scheduled to use its parachute to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near California, off the coast of San Diego, on Friday, April 10 at 8:07 p.m. ET.
After landing, the Artemis II crew exits the vehicle and boards a U.S. Navy recovery vessel.
