Artemis II sets distance record, heat shield critical for reentry
NASA's Artemis II mission just set a new distance record, cruising 400170km from earth, beating Apollo 13. Now, the big focus is on getting the crew home safely.
The Orion spacecraft will hit earth's atmosphere at nearly 40250km/h and face temperatures close to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Jared Isaacman says there's no backup if the heat shield fails: There's no plan B there. That is the thermal protection system. The heat shield has to work.
Astronauts skip demos, prioritize reentry
Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are skipping extra demos to focus on re-entry procedures and safety checks (even with minor hiccups like a stubborn lunar toilet).
Splashdown off San Diego is set for 8:07pm.
This mission isn't just about breaking records: it's another step toward returning humans to the moon.