Artemis II Crew Reflects on Intense Reentry Experience
The Artemis II astronauts shared insights into their reentry and splashdown experiences following their historic lunar mission.
The Artemis II crew recently discussed the challenges of their reentry and splashdown after completing a 10-day mission around the Moon. Mission specialist Christina Koch highlighted the reentry as "at least 10 times wilder of an experience than any rocket launch," emphasizing the intense nature of returning to Earth. During reentry, the Orion spacecraft encountered a plasma bubble, resulting in a six-minute communications blackout and external temperatures reaching up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Koch described the visual impact, noting the fireball's brightness was comparable to an arc welder, making it difficult to look at. Commander Reid Wiseman reassured the crew by stating, "Everything's nominal," during the turbulent descent. Pilot Victor Glover maintained a steady cadence of altitudes and speeds under four Gs for about 13 minutes, which Wiseman found impressive. Glover described the heat as "literally and figuratively intense" and emphasized the importance of maintaining the cadence during the communications blackout to ensure all systems functioned correctly. Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen expressed gratitude for the Orion capsule, acknowledging its role in keeping the crew safe during the mission. The crew also reflected on an emotional moment when they proposed naming a lunar crater after Wiseman's late wife, Carroll, as a tribute to her memory.