Artemis II Astronauts Return to Earth: Splashdown Details
The Artemis II crew, which includes NASA astronauts and Canadian cosmonaut Jeremy Hansen, is scheduled to return to Earth on Friday, concluding their 10-day mission around the Moon. The return will involve a dynamic reentry, with the capsule hitting the upper atmosphere at 400,000 feet and traveling at speeds up to 30 times the speed of sound. Reentry is set to begin at 7:53 p.m. ET. Following a 14-minute journey, the crew is expected to splashdown off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. ET. The recovery effort will be managed by the USS John P. Murtha, a Navy vessel prepared to extract the astronauts and conduct necessary medical assessments.
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The Artemis II crew, comprising NASA astronauts and Canadian cosmonaut Jeremy Hansen, is set to return to Earth on Friday, concluding their 10-day mission around the Moon.
Mission Conclusion and Reentry Details
The four-person crew will experience a highly dynamic reentry into Earth's atmosphere. The mission's conclusion marks the successful completion of the Artemis II journey around the Moon.
Crew Members: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
Reentry Dynamics: The capsule will hit the upper atmosphere at an altitude of 400,000 feet, traveling at speeds estimated to be 30 times the speed of sound.
Timeline and Splashdown
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The return sequence is scheduled for Friday evening, with specific milestones set for the recovery operation:
Reentry Start: The atmospheric reentry is scheduled to begin at 7:53 p.m. ET.
Splashdown: Approximately 14 minutes after reentry begins, the crew is expected to splashdown off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. ET.
Recovery Operations
A dedicated naval vessel is positioned to ensure the safe recovery and medical evaluation of the astronauts. The USS John P. Murtha Navy recovery vessel is standing by to assist with the following critical tasks:
