The Orion capsule, carrying the Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, is on track for a high-speed return to Earth after nine days.
Expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at approximately 5:07PM PT / 8:07PM ET, the capsule will undergo a perilous re-entry through the atmosphere. Navy recovery crews await to ensure the astronauts are safe before they are transported for medical checks aboard the USS John P. Murtha.
Despite the known design flaw in Orion’s heat shield, which sustained unexpected damage during the uncrewed Artemis I test flight, NASA is optimistic about a successful homecoming. The re-entry is unquestionably risky, but with planning and preparation, it's hoped that the astronauts can return safely to Earth.
The splashdown will be livestreamed on NASA’s official YouTube channel for those unable to tune in live. Major news channels and streaming platforms like Netflix will also broadcast the event starting at 6:30PM ET, ensuring global coverage of this historic moment.
