Quick Read
- The Artemis II crew is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at 8:07 p.m. EDT today.
- NASA is employing a new ‘lofted’ reentry maneuver to protect the spacecraft’s heat shield from damage.
- This mission marks the first time humans have orbited the moon since the Apollo era, serving as a precursor to future lunar landings.
SAN DIEGO (Azat TV) – NASA’s Artemis II crew is poised to conclude a landmark 10-day mission today, April 10, 2026, as the Orion spacecraft prepares for a high-stakes splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are expected to touch down at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT, marking the first time humans have orbited the moon since 1972.
Navigating the Risks of a ‘Lofted’ Reentry
The return trajectory has been specifically modified to address thermal protection concerns observed during the uncrewed Artemis I mission. Rather than a direct atmospheric entry, engineers have programmed the Orion capsule for a ‘lofted’ reentry. This maneuver functions similarly to skipping a stone across water, allowing the spacecraft to dip into the upper atmosphere to shed velocity before performing a second, final descent. NASA officials, including lead flight director Jeff Radigan, emphasized that precision in this angle is critical, as it is designed to distribute the immense heat energy that damaged the heat shield on the previous flight.
Operational Readiness and Post-Flight Health
The crew spent their final hours in space finalizing the stowage of equipment and performing medical readiness checks. To mitigate the physiological effects of transitioning from microgravity to Earth’s gravity, the astronauts have been training with orthostatic intolerance garments. These compression suits are designed to counteract potential dizziness and lightheadedness upon recovery. Despite minor technical challenges throughout the mission—including an ongoing issue with the spacecraft’s waste management system—mission control reports the crew remains in high spirits, having spent their final morning listening to a curated playlist that included ‘Run to the Water’ by Live.
The Future of Lunar Exploration
The successful recovery of the Artemis II crew is a vital prerequisite for the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface. By testing the Orion capsule’s performance in deep space and validating the efficiency of the new reentry profile, NASA aims to secure the data necessary for future long-duration crewed lunar expeditions. The mission has already set significant benchmarks, including reaching record-breaking distances from Earth, and the data gathered from the heat shield’s performance today will serve as the primary indicator for the safety of future human lunar flight.
The successful execution of this reentry maneuver is not merely a technical milestone but a necessary validation of the Orion heat shield’s integrity, which remains the single most critical dependency for transitioning from lunar flyby missions to sustained surface operations on the moon.