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Artemis II Astronauts Report Heat Shield Charring
17 Apr
Summary
- Artemis II astronauts described a smooth re-entry with some heat shield charring.
- The Orion capsule experienced temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- NASA adjusted the re-entry angle, not the heat shield, for this mission.
Astronauts from NASA's Artemis II mission have returned safely to Earth, describing a smooth re-entry after their journey around the moon. Commander Reid Wiseman reported observing some charring on the Orion capsule's heat shield, particularly on the 'shoulder' area, though he stated that no significant pieces were missing. Mission pilot Victor Glover described the re-entry as an intense 13-minute and 36-second descent, with the capsule reaching speeds of nearly 30,000 miles per hour, or Mach 38.89.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman downplayed concerns about the heat shield's appearance, noting that it performed as expected and had shown similar charring in ground tests. Engineers will thoroughly examine the data collected during the nearly 10-day mission. Following issues observed during the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, NASA opted to alter the angle and trajectory of the Artemis II crew's re-entry to reduce heat exposure, rather than upgrading the heat shield itself.
The successful completion of Artemis II is a critical step towards future lunar missions. NASA plans to use the Orion capsule for another Earth orbit flight next year, and subsequent missions aim to dock with landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin for lunar landings as early as 2028.
