NASA has released a video showing the final moments of the Orion spacecraft before its return to Earth during the Artemis II mission. The footage shows the most spectacular stages of atmospheric reentry, from the approach to the upper atmosphere to the splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
A very high-speed crossing
Upon entering Earth's atmosphere, Orion was at an altitude of approximately 122 km and traveling at nearly 35 times the speed of sound. NASA specifies that a planned radio blackout of about six minutes then occurred, a classic phenomenon caused by the plasma that envelops the capsule during the extreme heating of reentry.
Parachutes deployed in two stages
After this critical phase, communications were restored, and then Orion proceeded to the final braking phase. The stabilizing parachutes deployed at approximately 23,400 feet, before the three main parachutes opened at approximately 5,400 feet, slowing the capsule for the final descent phase.
A successful water landing off the coast of San Diego
The capsule finally splashed down successfully off the coast of San Diego, California. NASA and U.S. military recovery teams then took charge of the crew before their transfer to the USS John P. Murtha for initial medical checkups.
A historic mission for Artemis II
Beyond the beauty of the images, this return marks a significant milestone for the Artemis program. According to NASA, the Artemis II crew completed a nearly ten-day mission around the Moon and reached a distance of up to 252,756 miles from Earth, becoming the first crew to travel to the Moon in over half a century.
