![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/heatshield1-800x420.jpg\")
The heat shield that protected the Artemis II astronauts after the Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. | Photo by U.S. Navy <\/p>\n The heat shield that protected the Artemis II astronauts after the Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10. | Photo by U.S. Navy <\/p>\n
NASA has released an underwater photo showing the heat shield that protected the Artemis II crew as they successfully reentered Earth\u2019s atmosphere. <\/p>\n
The heat shield was one of the most talked-about parts of the Orion spacecraft, with some wondering whether it was up to the job after the heat shield onboard the uncrewed Artemis I mission showed signs of charring. <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/heatshield-artemis1-800x533.jpg\")
The charred heat shield from Artemis I. | Photo by NASA <\/p>\n
But NASA released a photo<\/a> of the Artemis II heat shield on Monday that shows it to be in good condition after protecting the crew as their spaceship traveled almost 35 times the speed of sound during reentry. <\/p>\n \u201cDiver imagery of the spacecraft\u2019s heat shield initially taken after splashdown and further inspections on the recovery ship found the char loss behavior observed on Artemis I was significantly reduced, both in terms of quantity and size,\u201d NASA says. <\/p>\n Futurism notes<\/a> that after the Artemis I heat shield showed signs of damage, experts like retired NASA astronaut Charles Camarda expressed reservations<\/a> that the heat shield might not be up to task. The trajectory of Artemis II\u2019s reentry was adjusted to minimize the heat build-up. <\/p>\n One photo showing the Orion spacecraft parachuting down into the Pacific Ocean raised eyebrows after it appeared to show a chunk of material missing from underneath where the heat shield is located. But as Gizmodo reports<\/a>, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said it was an expected ablation. <\/p>\n \u201cThe discoloration was not liberated material,\u201d he said on April 12. \u201cThe white color observed corresponds to the compression pad area and is consistent with the local geometry, AVOCAT byproducts, and transitional heating environments. We observed this behavior in arc jet testing and expected it in this compression pad area.\u201d<\/p>\n While initial assessments about the heat shield\u2019s performance are good, the space agency will inspect it more closely in the coming months. <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/dsc-3398-600x800.jpg\")
People noticed the white mark on the underside of Orion (enlarged), but NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman assuaged fears. | Photo by NASA\/Josh Valcarcel. <\/p>\n