Artemis II Returns: NASA Crew Prepares for Historic Splashdown off San Diego
After a historic 10-day journey around the Moon, the Artemis II crew is officially in the final phase of their trip home. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are currently preparing for re-entry and a targeted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
The crew began their final day waking up 61,326 miles from Earth to the songs “Run to the Water” by Live and “Free” by Zac Brown Band. This mission marks a critical milestone in lunar exploration, proving the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft and the endurance of the crew during a deep-space flyby.
The Final Maneuver: Return Trajectory Correction
To ensure a precise atmospheric entry, the crew performed their third and final return trajectory correction (RTC3) burn at 2:53 p.m. This maneuver refined Orion’s path, positioning the spacecraft for a safe descent. During the process, the crew enjoyed spectacular views of Earth growing larger through the cabin windows.
Following the successful burn, Commander Reid Wiseman offered a shoutout to the ESA Airbus team, including partners in Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the Glenn Research Center. Wiseman credited the European Service Module for propelling the crew from Earth to the Moon and back with extreme precision.
Re-entry and Splashdown Timeline
The descent from space is a high-stakes operation. The Orion spacecraft will hit the top of Earth’s atmosphere at an altitude of 400,000 feet, traveling at approximately 30 times the speed of sound. According to CNN, the timeline for the return is as follows:
- Re-entry Start: 7:53 p.m. ET
- Targeted Splashdown: 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT)
- Location: Off the coast of San Diego, California
Live coverage of the return is available starting at 6:30 p.m. On NASA+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Netflix, HBO Max, Discovery+, Peacock, and Roku.
Recovery Operations in the Pacific
A combined NASA, and U.S. Military recovery team is currently standing by to welcome the astronauts home. The USS John P. Murtha, a Navy recovery vessel, is stationed off the coast of San Diego. The ship’s crew will assist in removing the astronauts from the Orion capsule and providing immediate medical evaluations to ensure the crew’s health after their journey in deep space.
Mission by the Numbers
The Artemis II mission has pushed the boundaries of human spaceflight. Based on data from NASA, the mission’s scale is impressive:
- Total Distance Traveled: 695,081 miles from launch to splashdown.
- Lunar Proximity: The spacecraft passed within 4,070 miles of the lunar surface.
- Mission Duration: 10 days.
- The Crew: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
- The Target: Splashdown at 8:07 p.m. EDT off the coast of San Diego.
- The Vessel: USS John P. Murtha is leading the recovery effort.
- The Feat: A total travel distance of nearly 700,000 miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is Orion traveling during re-entry?
The spacecraft enters the atmosphere at roughly 30 times the speed of sound.
Who is on the Artemis II crew?
The crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Where can I watch the splashdown?
Streaming is available via NASA+ and several major platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.
As the Artemis II crew returns to Earth, this mission provides the essential data and confidence needed for future missions. The success of this lunar flyby paves the way for the next phase of the Artemis program: returning humans to the surface of the Moon.
Worth a look