The four astronauts of Artemis II, who have orbited the moon and traveled further into space than any human in history, will conclude their epic 10-day voyage on April 10, which included a high-speed, high-speed re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere that involved risks reaching temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Orion capsule, whose crew has named it “Integrity,” is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego just after 5 p.m. Pacific time.
The amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26) will recover NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency Jeremy Hansen at sea.
But to reach the Pacific Ocean, the capsule must first perform a high-altitude maneuver known as a “skip-entry” trajectory to slow down as it enters the atmosphere at about 25,000 miles per hour.
How does Orion return to Earth?
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Artemis II’s mission began on April 1 with a liftoff from Cape Canaveral. Its approach to the moon’s surface was on April 6, and the Orion capsule began its orbit back to Earth, using the moon’s gravity as a slingshot.
To begin reentry, the capsule will begin maneuvering 75 miles above Earth for its final descent to Earth. Basic steps to return safely:
- A final return trajectory correction burn will fine-tune Orion’s course to ensure it is on the correct trajectory for splashdown.
- The crew stows the equipment and sets the seats in place.
- The crew wears spacesuits.
- Approximately 20 minutes before reentry, the crew module (capsule) separates from the service module. This exposes the capsule’s heat shield, which protects the spacecraft and crew from intense heat.
Why does heat accumulate during atmospheric reentry?
Reentry begins at the so-called Entry Interface at an altitude of about 400,000 feet. As the atmosphere becomes denser, it acts as a brake. Traveling at speeds of up to 25,000 miles per hour, the spacecraft generates shock waves and accumulates heat. These waves compress gases in the atmosphere and superheat them to temperatures of more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Within seconds, superheated charged particles known as plasma build up around the spacecraft, causing a brief communications blackout. The recovery team will remain at the staging area until GPS readings are restored and the capsule is located.
How does Artemis Heatshield work?
Atmospheric reentry will naturally focus attention on the largest capsule heat shield ever built for astronauts, according to NASA.
This acts as a thermal protection feature, but also provides a large drag surface that allows the capsule to brake more efficiently.
The heat shield is made of Avcoat and slowly burns away, drawing heat away from the capsule. It was also used in the Apollo capsule, but is applied differently in Artemis by using tiles and blocks painstakingly glued together.
- 26,500 feet: The protective cover of the capsule’s forward bay is removed to allow for the deployment of a series of three sets of parachutes.
- 25,000 feet: Two drogue parachutes (23 feet wide) deploy, slowing the descent to approximately 307 miles per hour.
- 9,500 feet: Three pilot parachutes (11 feet wide) deploy and assist in hoisting the main parachute.
- 9,000 feet: Three main parachutes (116 feet wide) deploy, slowing the descent to about 17 miles per hour.
- The capsule falls into the Pacific Ocean.
After splashdown, five orange airbags inflate around the top of the spacecraft, flipping the capsule vertically. The crew is expected to disembark the ship and board a U.S. Navy recovery vessel within two hours.
Navy divers install a device between the spacecraft and the recovery vessel to recover the spacecraft. The team takes the capsule to the ship and secures it until it makes its way to shore.
Where does Orion fly?
The Orion capsule is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. ET.
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY Contributor
SOURCE USA TODAY NETWORK REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. NASA; Reuters; Lockheed Martin
