The Artemis II astronauts have completed their lunar orbit, captured stunning visuals (above), established several new milestones, and are now returning to Earth.
The 10-day journey will culminate on Friday, April 10, with a high-stakes homecoming as the Orion spacecraft hits the atmosphere at speeds approaching 25,000 miles per hour.
During this phase, crew members Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will endure a 16-minute, intense ride as the vehicle faces the most extreme physical forces of the mission.
Following the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022, where the spacecraft experienced some unforeseen heat shield erosion, engineers have made structural improvements. However, the final descent through Earth’s atmosphere this week remains the most dangerous part of the trip for the four astronauts and the mission team.
How to watch
NASA will broadcast the return live via NASA+ and its official YouTube channel. You can also use the embedded video player above to follow the event.
NASA’s current itinerary for Friday is listed below. We will provide updates if any schedule changes occur. All times are listed in Eastern Time.
6:30 p.m.: NASA starts its live coverage of the return flight.
7:33 p.m.: The Orion service module and crew module detach.
7:37 p.m.: Orion performs a short thruster burn to prepare for atmospheric entry.
7:53 p.m.: A critical moment as Orion enters Earth’s atmosphere. The heat shield must withstand temperatures of roughly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit—about half the heat of the sun’s surface. The spacecraft will slow down at a rate of up to 4G, making the astronauts feel four times their normal weight.
8:07 p.m.: After the parachutes deploy to reduce speed, Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 50 miles off the California coast. This marks the end of a historic voyage that prepares the way for a crewed moon landing by 2028.
10 p.m.: A news conference will be held at the Johnson Space Center following the splashdown.