\nHow to watch the splashdown <\/p>\n
NASA will stream live coverage of what is expected to be an epic splashdown of the Artemis II Orion spacecraft.<\/p>\n
You can watch NASA’s broadcast for free on its YouTube channel<\/a> and various other social media platforms.<\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T19:58:15.468Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n Even with modern technology like reusable rockets and autonomous docking, many spacecraft still come back to Earth the old-fashioned way: splash landing in the ocean.<\/p>\n This is because the water is a bit more forgivable than landing on a hard surface.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A capsule goes through a punishing experience<\/a> when reentering Earth’s atmosphere, placing it under extreme heat and intense pressures.<\/p>\n Water can help absorb some of the impact of landing, which is especially useful for blunt-bodied capsules<\/a> like Orion that are designed to descend under parachutes rather than glide down like an airplane.<\/p>\n Landing in the ocean also gives mission planners far more room to work with, as they don’t have to try to steer the capsule from accidentally landing in a populated area.<\/p>\n Ocean landings make sense<\/a> in general because most missions return over vast stretches of water anyway. Rather than trying to steer a spacecraft toward a small runway or remote desert area, teams can aim for a broad zone and position rescue ships nearby.<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T19:51:10.992Z It’s the quiet before the storm on NASA’s live mission feed at the moment.<\/p>\n The crew completed their final return trajectory correction burn a little while ago, and we’re now watching a serene view of Earth cast in shadow, getting ominously larger and larger from Orion’s perspective.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A reminder that we’re currently watching NASA’s live mission coverage, along with more than 220,000 other people on YouTube.<\/p>\n NASA’s “Crew Comes Home” broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT on YouTube and a variety of streaming services.<\/p>\n The final stages of descent will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT when Orion’s crew module separates from the service module. It’ll be not long after this, that Orion’s heat shield will face a significant test.<\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T19:26:12.944Z According to NASA<\/a>, Orion will be descending at an incredible speed of around 24,000 mph. That may be hard to wrap your head around, so here are a few comparisons:<\/p>\n Needless to say, it’s quite fast!<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T19:11:54.775Z Wiseman and Glover have just been snapping photos of what appears to be a gorgeous view of Earth from inside Orion. Wiseman then held up his phone to show off one of the photos.<\/p>\n “We’re going to need a copy of that photo when you guys get back,” Jacki Mahaffey said over crew communications.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We’re going to need a copy, too, Wiseman.<\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T19:06:09.131Z But that’s not to say that coming home from the International Space Station (ISS) and returning from the moon are really that comparable in terms of challenge. The biggest reason is speed.<\/p>\n A spacecraft returning from the ISS is returning from low Earth orbit, which means it’s already circling relatively close<\/a> to our planet. In contrast, a spacecraft returning from the moon is coming from thousands of miles away<\/a>, meaning they took more thrust to get up there, and accelerate back down for longer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Capsules coming from the moon return at a speed of around 25,000 mph (40,000 km\/h), which is about 7,500 mph faster<\/a> than the 17,500 mph (28,000 km\/h) speed of those returning from the ISS.<\/p>\n That higher speed makes reentry around two times hotter<\/a> than an ISS return, making the descent harsher on crew and capsule. Because of this, lunar capsules have to be built with more robust heat shields to withstand the higher temperatures.<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T19:01:10.585Z \n NASA astronaut Michael Fincke is helped to his feet after returning to Earth from the ISS with other members of the SpaceX Crew-11. (Image credit: NASA\/Bill Ingalls)<\/p>\n It was actually only a couple of months ago, when SpaceX’s Crew-11 returned early from the International Space Station (ISS) on January 15, 2026 due to a medical emergency<\/a>.<\/p>\n The unknown medical episode<\/a> was experienced by astronaut Michael Fincke. According to Fincke, the episode happened on January 7, after he had been preparing for a spacewalk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He said he couldn’t talk, felt no pain, and that the event lasted about 20 minutes. Doctors have reportedly ruled out a heart attack, but the exact cause is still unclear.<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:54:56.829Z Burn complete! The third return trajectory correction burn is now in the books, and the Artemis II crew is keeping a steady course toward home.<\/p>\n Well, it was only a little bit of excitement. I know you’re really here for reentry.<\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:52:26.220Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n That’s commander Reid Wiseman speaking, as sunlight streams into the Orion cockpit after the spacecraft assumed the orientation for burn.<\/p>\n Ben Turner<\/p>\n Acting Trending News Editor<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:46:38.094Z Orion is closing in on its third return trajectory correction burn, scheduled for 2:53 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n This 8-second burn is to tweak Orion’s trajectory, ensuring the crew maintains a precise course for their reentry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NASA’s mission commentator, Rob Navias, just reminded us that this third return trajectory correction burn and the subsequent crew module raised burn are final amendments to Orion’s angle of reentry, designed to minimize impacts upon the heat shield.<\/p>\n You can read more about Artemis II’s faulty heat shield in my Q&A with space expert Ed Macaulay. Check out the full story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:40:01.665Z The weather forecast continues to look great for splashdown. Wind speeds are at about 10 knots, and waves are less than 1.2 meters (4 feet) high off the coast of San Diego.<\/p>\n The Artemis II crew should have a peaceful time bobbing in the ocean if all goes to plan. You know, after hurtling to Earth at 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 kilometers per hour).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As NASA’s mission commentator Rob Navias puts it, “Knots not an issue.”<\/p>\n Okay, that’s enough poor jokes for now. Joke time is over.<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:38:38.905Z To lighten the mood after that intense burn conference, I think it’s time for a joke. This one comes from Funology.<\/p>\n Why did the cow go in the spaceship?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It wanted to see the mooooooon!<\/p>\n Editor’s note: The Artemis II crew are not cows. <\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:37:26.144Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n Besides liftoff, Orion’s trip back to Earth will be the most dramatic aspect of Artemis II. After looping around the moon, the spacecraft will slam back into Earth’s atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 kilometers per hour).<\/p>\n This means the positioning of the craft needs to be ultra-precise \u2014 come in too steep and the vehicle faces punishing heat and pressure; but come in too shallow and it can skip away from the atmosphere.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What’s worse is that the gas around the spacecraft gets so hot it turns into electrically conductive plasma<\/a>, which blocks communications between the craft and ground control, essentially forcing the astronauts to endure a bumpy, scary ride in radio silence for about six minutes. During this reentry, the four astronauts will go from experiencing weightlessness to up to 3.9Gs.<\/p>\n NASA has said that Orion’s heat shield must protect the spacecraft from temperatures of around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,7000 degrees Celsius) during reentry. However, experts are concerned<\/a> about the integrity of the heat shield, as it’s similar to the one used in the Artemis I mission, and that shield cracked during re-entry.<\/p>\n NASA used a skip reentry<\/a> technique with Artemis I, which has the capsule dip into the upper atmosphere and slow down using drag before bouncing up again, a technique that is supposed to be smoother for astronauts.<\/p>\n However, due to the shield concerns, NASA plans on a more lofted direct entry<\/a>, sending Orion straight into the atmosphere for a steady, controlled return to the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n “If we stick to the new reentry path that NASA has planned, then this heat shield will be safe to fly,” Wiseman said.<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:19:56.950Z Pilot Victor Glover has just been chatting burn numbers with Jacki Mahaffey.<\/p>\n There was some confusion about Excel file names, but it looks like they’re all set now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With this and Koch’s difficulties getting a Bluetooth device to pair after liftoff, it’s nice to see these incredibly well-trained astronauts struggling with the same issues as us mere mortals.<\/p>\n The burn conference has concluded.<\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:10:51.494Z Thanks to the close proximity of the Naval Base San Diego, members of the Navy, aboard the USS John Murtha<\/a>, will be pulling the crew out of the capsule and aboard helicopters.<\/p>\n From there the astronauts will get transported to the Johnson Space Center.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Christina Koch will be hoisted from the capsule first, then Jeremy Hansen, then Victor Glover and then finally Reid Wiseman. Both Koch and Hansen will ride in the first helicopter and Glover and Wiseman in the second, according to NASA’s ongoing livestream<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:08:15.902Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n Here’s our first glimpse of the crew from inside Orion’s cockpit today, with commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover reviewing timeline parameters and some of the systems status boards on the flight deck.<\/p>\n Ben Turner<\/p>\n Acting Trending News Editor<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T18:06:08.652Z When I said “Orion is about to make its third return trajectory correction burn,” what I meant to say was, “Orion is going to make its third return trajectory correction burn in an hour.”<\/p>\n The 8-second burn is scheduled for 2:53 p.m. Apologies. I’m just so excited for this burn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-04-10T17:45:24.895Z Orion is about to make its third return trajectory correction burn, scheduled for 2:53 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n This 8-second burn is to tweak Orion’s trajectory, ensuring the crew maintain a precise course for their reentry.<\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T17:44:21.886Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n During a 7-hour lunar flyby earlier this week, Artemis II crewmembers called out their observations of the moon\u2019s surface while simultaneously photographing it \u2014 giving members of the science team back on Earth a minute-by-minute account of the rare research expedition.<\/p>\n Several observations already stand out<\/a>, according to Gordon Osinski<\/a>, a crater specialist and lunar geologist who helped train the Artemis II astronauts on what to look for.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Besides seeing at least five impact flashes \u2014 bright bursts of light from space rocks pummelling the lunar surface \u2014 the crew also reported seeing patches of green and brown colorations on the moon.<\/p>\n “We do know there is color on the lunar surface,” Osinski told Live Science contributor Elizabeth Howell<\/a> in an interview.<\/p>\n What those patches signify, geologically, needs further investigation when the crew arrives home.<\/p>\n But this much is clear, Osinski said: The human eye is more sensitive to color than the cameras on board Artemis II, underscoring the importance of sending trained humans on scientific space missions rather than just relying on machines.<\/p>\n Read the full story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brandon Specktor<\/p>\n Space and Physics Editor<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T17:38:51.547Z NASA’s Jacki Mahaffey, Artemis II chief training officer in charge of communications with the crew today, is running through some cabin configurations with the crew before reentry.<\/p>\n One of them involves the stowing of the collapsable contingency urinal (CCU) \u2014 a container used on Artemis II after the notorious malfunction of their space toilet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Christina Koch has told Mahaffey that the CCU is now stowed and sealed inside two ziploc bags.<\/p>\n “We feel that’s unaccessible now,” Koch said. “And we’d like to keep it in that config.”<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T17:25:29.996Z As the astronauts wake up, we’ll expect to hear more chatter from them on the comms soon, Rob Navias tells us.<\/p>\n In the meantime, let’s take another admiring look at their astrophotography skill with some of the stunning snaps they took on their flyby of the moon.<\/p>\n Image 1 of 6<\/p>\n If you want to take a closer look, or learn about these shots in more detail, check out my story on them here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ben Turner<\/p>\n Acting Trending News Editor<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T17:11:38.307Z \n The crewmembers of the Apollo 13 mission step aboard the USS Iwo Jima recovery ship after surviving their life-threatening voyage around the moon. (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n There’s something delightfully poetic about how Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, is on a trajectory modeled after the Apollo 13 mission<\/a>.<\/p>\n The path around the moon and back<\/a> to Earth is a free-return path<\/a>, meaning the Orion spacecraft uses both the moon’s and Earth’s natural orbits to maximize efficiency.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And that’s not just to save fuel \u2014 this is the same basic lifesaving geometry that helped Apollo 13 make it home after an on-board explosion sent its mission very off-script (we have this mission to thank for the phrase “Houston, we have a problem”).<\/p>\n That means that if anything had gone wrong with Artemis II’s thrusters, it would have been much less of a problem, Houston.<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T17:02:50.598Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n Rob Navias back with another fetching telemetry visualization for the Orion capsule Integrity.<\/p>\n From launch to splashdown, the mission will have logged a total distance of 694,481 miles (1,117,659 kilometers), Navias noted.<\/p>\n Ben Turner<\/p>\n Acting Trending News Editor<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T16:47:48.150Z \n The Artemis I heat shield showed troubling signs of gas buildup damage after it landed. (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n Yesterday, I reported on the issue with Orion’s heat shield<\/a>. The heat shield will be essential for bringing the astronauts home safely today, but some experts are concerned about how it will perform.<\/p>\n NASA used essentially the same heat shield for the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, and that one suffered much more than expected. As a result, the space agency has opted to adjust the reentry path for Artemis II to mitigate risks to the heat shield.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To learn a bit more about how the shield will hold up today, I spoke with Ed Macaulay<\/a>, a lecturer in physics and data science at Queen Mary University of London who recently wrote about heat shield safety concerns in The Conversation<\/a>. You can read the interview here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T16:39:13.449Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n As Orion falls back to Earth, the crew is not flying the capsule the same way a pilot would fly an airplane.<\/p>\n Instead, the spacecraft uses a combination of onboard guidance<\/a> and thrusters to control where it lands<\/a>. The crew can monitor the process and step in if needed, but most of the work for landing is done by the spacecraft’s guidance and control system. Small thrusters can help orient Orion during re-entry, making sure the heat shield stays properly positioned and the capsule follows the right path down to Earth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to NASA<\/a>,when Orion hits the upper atmosphere just over Hawaii at around 7:37 p.m EDT, it will begin the final trajectory\u2011adjustment burn that fine-tunes its position to follow the proper flight path.<\/p>\n After that, the spacecraft will begin a series of roll maneuvers to safely separate itself from the other falling hardware due to the service module separating only moments earlier. It’s at this point that Orion will reach that maximum velocity of 23,864 mph (38,405 kph).<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T16:33:52.630Z Rob Navias back with an update from mission control.<\/p>\n The crew is “getting a bite to eat, completing the stowage of items in their crew cabin and everything is all set,” he said. “The stage is set for their return to Earth this evening with a splashdown to the Pacific off the coast of San Diego, seven hours and 40 minutes from now.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meanwhile, in the flight control room, a shift handover is taking place, with entry controllers led by flight director Rick Henfling stepping in.<\/p>\n “The vehicle is in great shape, and the weather in the splashdown zone couldn’t be better,” Navias added. “Winds are forecast to be 10 knots at splashdown. Wave heights less than four feet, and the wave periodics against the capsule as it bobs in the Pacific Ocean [will be] about 17 seconds.<\/p>\n “We are expecting a few broken and scattered clouds, but that is not an issue,” he concluded. “Integrity is coming home through the law of orbital mechanics.”<\/p>\n Ben Turner<\/p>\n Acting Trending News Editor<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T16:16:54.182Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n If you live near San Diego, California, you could consider waving at Orion as it hurtles toward the Pacific Ocean at the crazy fast speed of 11 km\/s (40,000 km\/h) or 24,606 mph<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to NASA<\/a>, the splashdown is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. EDT (0007 GMT on April 11), with the capsule landing around 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers)<\/a> southwest of San Diego.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is generally the same landing site as the 2022 Artemis I mission and a strategic choice for NASA, as the area hosts a naval base<\/a> for the Pacific Fleet Surface Navy. And it will be a Navy ship (the USS John Murtha<\/a> from Naval Base San Diego) which has the privilege of picking up the four astronauts after they land back on Earth.<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T15:47:30.630Z And there was the wake-up call, this time with a double bill of songs. First, the actual wake-up song from Live:<\/p>\n Live – Run To The Water – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n And then the Zac Brown Band:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With a special pre-recorded message from Zac from the Zac Brown Band: “Just want to say how proud of you we are. It takes courage and grit and freedom to chase the unknown. It’s the purest kind of American spirit. Millions back home are looking up and feeling more inspired because of you. Keep flying strong. Keep flying safe. Can’t wait to welcome you home.”<\/p>\n “What a great way to start the day, Houston,” said Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman. “Courage and grit. That’ll stick with me and it should stick with all of you all day long.”<\/p>\n “We got it loud and clear, Integrity,” said mission control. “Can’t wait to see you run to the water. See you soon. Good morning.”<\/p>\n Ben Turner<\/p>\n Acting Trending News Editor<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T15:23:03.690Z Artemis II has been famous for it’s iconic wake-up songs each morning. With the astronauts selecting each song. Eager listeners can also find the 10 songs on NASA Spotify playlist<\/a>. But what will be the last? Well, we have only 15 minutes or so before we find out.<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T15:15:01.487Z Rob Navias<\/a> is back on the NASA broadcast, this time to tell us that there are about 22 minutes left until the crew will get their wake-up call “and will begin at that point to review their morning messages and complete the configuration of the crew cabin for their high-speed entry back to Earth’s atmosphere this evening.”<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T14:37:12.638Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n And here’s the view from Integrity’s solar array wing camera.<\/p>\n “The Earth will grow larger and larger in the field of view as we continue to move throughout the day,” Navias said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yeah, we get that bit, Rob.<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T14:34:21.300Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n Rob Navias<\/a> has appeared on NASA’s livestream to kick off the agency’s live coverage of the landing, and has also shared a handy visualization of where Orion is currently at.<\/p>\n “As you can see from this computer generated graphic based on real time telemetry, we are currently just 67,000 miles from the Earth,” Navias said. “We passed the halfway mark last night between the Earth and the Moon, and are 186,000 miles from the moon as we close in on the planet Earth.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-04-10T14:02:03.236Z \n (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n The “overview effect,” is a term invented by the science philosopher Frank White to describe the shift in perspective humans feel when they see Earth from space \u2014 especially how small and vulnerable our patch of cosmic oasis<\/a> appears against the uninhabitable and vast backdrop that surrounds it.<\/p>\n When asked what it felt like to disappear behind the moon and lose radio contact with Earth, Artemis II pilot Victor Glover<\/a> expressed a similar sentiment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I took a brief moment to say a short prayer of gratitude for being sent on this mission and trusted with bringing back scientifically relevant information,” Glover said. “And I also just felt like I was hoping that people looked up and were watching to see when we came back into communication, and that maybe there was a chance that folks would feel a sense of togetherness.”<\/p>\n “We have a moment of silence whenever something solemn [occurs] that requires reverence, or someone that we love has passed away, but maybe we could call it a moment of togetherness,” he added. “And really was hoping that while we were waiting to get back in contact, that people could just feel that sense of togetherness, that we were all a crew on spaceship Earth.”<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T13:41:59.796Z \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n During the same in-flight news conference, the astronauts were also asked who they would want to play them in a movie.<\/p>\n “We’ve thought a little about the movie, and I think that’s way out of our pay grade,” Reid Wiseman<\/a> said. “But one thing we do know for sure is that this guy [pointing at Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen<\/a>] is gonna be played by Buzz Lightyear. 100%. No doubt.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I can see the likeness. But Wiseman knows Buzz Lightyear isn’t a real guy, right? Or what are they hiding from us?<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T13:26:38.000Z While we can’t exactly give you the inside story on the contents of the crews’ dreams right now, we can at least tell you some of their reflections upon their historic journey before they went to bed.<\/p>\n When asked what they would tell their younger selves about what they’re doing right now, Christina Koch<\/a> recalled a family vacation she took to Kennedy Space Centre at age 10.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “If I could have told that little girl who took home a picture of Earthrise, and hung it in her room, that she would eventually launch from that same place, to see that same view, I’m pretty sure she would not believe it,” Koch said. “But even though I still can’t believe it, and she certainly wouldn’t believe it, she chased that dream, and it ended up happening.”<\/p>\n “It’s such an honour to hear that we’ve inspired, that’s truly one of the top things we ever wanted to do,” she concluded.<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T13:18:42.149Z The Artemis II crew are currently taking some much needed sleep before a very busy day returning to Earth, and will be set to wake up in a couple of hours time.<\/p>\n Here’s today’s full schedule (in EDT) taken from NASA’s website<\/a>:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3:05 a.m.: Crew sleep begins<\/p>\n 11:35 a.m.: Flight Day 10 crew wakeup<\/p>\n 1:50 p.m.: Orion cabin configuration for re-entry begins<\/p>\n 2:53 p.m.: Return trajectory correction burn<\/p>\n 6:30 p.m.: NASA+ coverage begins<\/p>\n 7:33 p.m.: Crew module and service module separation<\/p>\n 7:37 p.m.: Crew module raise burn<\/p>\n 7:53 p.m.: Entry interface<\/p>\n 8:07 p.m.: Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean<\/p>\n 10:30 p.m.: Post-splashdown news conference at NASA Johnson Space Center<\/p>\n Ben Turner<\/p>\n Acting Trending News Editor<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T13:07:17.860Z NASA is expecting the Artemis II crew to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean just off San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT. The space agency and the U.S. Navy will be waiting for them with a recovery ship.<\/p>\n NASA’s live coverage<\/a> of the crew’s return to Earth will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.<\/p>\n Patrick Pester<\/p>\n Trending News Writer<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T11:52:35.061Z \n NASA’s unmanned Orion spaceship comes in for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off Baja California, Mexico, on Dec. 11, 2022. (Image credit: Mario Tama\/Pool\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n The heat shield’s durability is certainly the big question today, but what about those parachutes Ben just mentioned?<\/p>\n The Orion spacecraft is fitted with 11 total parachutes<\/a>, all deployed in a very specific sequence to slow, stabilize and safely lower the capsule into the ocean. They includes three forward bay cover parachutes, two drogue parachutes, three pilot parachutes and three main parachutes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The most iconic of these are the three main parachutes, which span 116 feet<\/a> (35 meters) in diameter, weigh 300 pounds<\/a> (136 kilograms) and consist of 10,000 square feet of fabric<\/a> each.<\/p>\n Reentry will see the crew enter into a six-minute radio blackout caused by a buildup of superhot plasma surrounding the capsule. After this, NASA will first deploy the two drogue parachutes at an alitude of around 6.7 kilometers (22,000 feet)<\/a>. Then, at around 1.8 km (6,000 ft), the three main chutes will be released, slowing the Orion capsule to a leisurely 20 mile per hour (32 kilometers per hour) descent to splashdown.<\/p>\n Kenna Hughes-Castleberry<\/p>\n Content Manager<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T11:39:55.917Z \n NASA discovered a heat shield issue on the Artemis I Orion capsule after it splashed down in 2022. (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n The speed at which the Artemis II crew will return to Earth is set to be record-breaking \u2014 hitting the top of the atmosphere at around 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 kilometers per hour).<\/p>\n To dissipate all that energy and arrive at a much more reasonable 20 mph (32 kph) splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, the Orion capsule will use two key pieces of technology: parachutes and a heat shield.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Artemis II’s heat shield is designed to protect the crew and slow their capsule by heating up to temperatures of around 2,800 degrees Celsius (5,000 degrees Fahrenheit). Yet it has a problem: It is almost exactly the same as Artemis I’s heat shield, and that infamously cracked upon reentry.<\/p>\n That will make this coming stage of the mission among the most dangerous.<\/p>\n But while they have confessed to harboring “irrational” doubts, NASA officials have said they’re not worried. Why? Check out Patrick’s<\/a> story here for the full answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2026-04-10T11:30:53.908Z \n Footage from NASA’s Artemis I Orion capsule as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere on Dec. 11, 2022. (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n Good morning, science fans! We’re back to cover the nail-biting final stage of the Artemis II mission, which has seen a four-astronaut crew embark on a 685,000-mile (1.1 million kilometers) 10-day journey around the moon and back.<\/p>\n The crew \u2014 consisting of commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen \u2014 have captivated millions around the world with their voyage, beaming back stunning images<\/a>, scientific insights, laughter and some tears <\/a>as they made history and laid the groundwork for humanity’s return to the moon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now all they have to do is return home safely.<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/YcL6C7xa2PGLfVU6xxiwcb.jpg\")
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\nWhy do spacecraft still land in the ocean?<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/UHPw3hSiKV3d6wa8K7sS8C.jpg\")
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\nThe storm to come<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nJust how fast will Orion be moving? <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n“We’re going to need a copy of that photo”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nReturning from the moon is much harder than doing it from the International Space Station. Here’s why.<\/p>\n
\nWhen was the last splashdown before Artemis II? <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TecSR9sScQa5g46TDyZ2on.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nBurn, Orion, burn <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n“It is yet another spectacular view”<\/p>\n![\"Artemis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6prGc9wZzGoB5mYFzS9WMC.png\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TDL6D6zAT3NQxfDveP5Z8U.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nGet ready for burn<\/p>\n
\nIdeal weather conditions <\/p>\n
\nJoke time<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nWhat technique is NASA using for a safe reentry? <\/p>\n![\"Artemis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Xyp77ZvVBHXqc6yVPtyXK9.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nThe astronauts just got a little confused over Excel file names<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nWho will be picking up the astronauts?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nA view of the crew<\/p>\n![\"Reid](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LQx9RVbyxhSjAWkyzMfMcj.png\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nOops <\/p>\n
\nBurn coming up<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nDid they really see green on the moon? <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/72H5AksknMMbfHbyuyXjUE.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Brandon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Rrinoj9SZ99o7ue3nbRyL7.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nHere wee go<\/p>\n
\nMoonshots<\/p>\n![\"Earth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gahDatvZXJk7aotwMurfeP.jpg\")
The Earth sets as the Artemis II crew disappear behind the dark side of the moon.(Image credit: NASA)![\"Wisps](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/V94YCYyMorpFdxRwRnwqTM.jpg\")
Wisps of light from the sun’s corona and Earth’s shine appear around the lunar disc as the Artemis II crew drift in totality behind its dark side.(Image credit: NASA)![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ZGudaCV9KXZ2eKA7qtywbG.jpg\")
Low-angle sunlight casts long shadows near the moon’s terminator line \u2014 the division between lunar day and night.(Image credit: NASA)![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vUuFC9dc4oGboXLTmCzr4k.jpg\")
Half of the far side of the moon in total solar eclipse. (Image credit: NASA)![\"Carroll](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BAeyMYXo4ijp2T7pL7K6HZ.jpg\")
At the 10 o\u2019clock position of the Orientale basin, the two small craters that the Artemis II crew suggested be named Integrity and Carroll are visible(Image credit: NASA)![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aCW8XUTNPevw27bQPbgK2D.jpg\")
“Earthset”. The Earth disappears as the Artemis II crew dip behind the moon’s far side. (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nArtemis II’s trajectory was modeled off Apollo 13’s<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CdwdgSNfs3GHFv7kr27Sxn.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nWhere we’re at so far<\/p>\n![\"Artemis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6XTrrkW6igXXnHtg3bpiRM.png\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n‘Reasons to be confident’ about heat shield<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/j8K5vdzMvkFAT8vz7hAwBG.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nHow can the crew steer to the landing site? <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/JFtnv7Yydd6WrYWLoS48WA.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n“The stage is set”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nWhere are the Artemis II crew landing?<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2w9kYnBBuD99NLDbPeKJfG.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nRise and shine, Integrity<\/p>\n
\n![\"Live](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775851341_720_maxresdefault.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nWhat’s next on the Artemis playlist?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nIt’s nearly wake-up time<\/p>\n
\nThe view from Integrity<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6xPQHEdxXPeJUqDA3qzf8Q.png\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nNASA coverage begins<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AQwA88jJcG5hmSScRyXhkF.png\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nWhat does it feel like to disappear behind the moon?<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/haUfevLQvpeBFhQhZpfHvR.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nArtemis II \u2014 The Movie?<\/p>\n![\"Buzz](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CwB5yipQS4r7SLr2eG9tS.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nThe crew’s final reflections on their mission<\/p>\n
\nWhat are the Artemis II astronauts doing right now?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nWhat time is splashdown?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nSo what about the parachutes?<\/p>\n![\"Parachutes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RXf58EMvCYbaGPrCZnFsXL.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nFeeling the heat<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BJVF8yizJ4ASRZbBCNKvcM.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n
\nWhat goes up<\/p>\n![\"NASA's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/mTLUweUjRBjkpwrYYZdWb6.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n