The Artemis 2 astronauts have officially begun their high-speed journey back to Earth and are currently in the critical three-day transit period.
After a historic flyby around the Moon, the Orion spacecraft is racing toward home for a scheduled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 5:37 a.m. IST on Saturday, April 11.
Having successfully used the lunar gravity as a celestial slingshot to gain the speed needed for their return, the four astronauts are now under the dominant pull of Earth’s gravity once again.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR THE ARTEMIS 2 CREW?
As the spacecraft travels through the void between the Moon and Earth, the crew is focused on preparing for a high-stakes reentry.
This transit phase involves a period of coasting, which refers to the spacecraft moving forward through the vacuum of space using its existing momentum without needing the engines to run constantly.
However, this transit phase is not just about coasting, astronauts must conduct trajectory correction burns.
These are short, precise engine firings that ensure the capsule hits the Earth’s atmosphere at the exact angle required.
If the angle is slightly off, the spacecraft could either bounce off the atmosphere back into space or burn up due to extreme friction.
HOW WILL THE SPACECRAFT RETURN TO EARTH?
The final leg of the mission will be the most intense.
Orion is scheduled to hit the atmosphere at a staggering speed of roughly 40,000 kilometres per hour.
To handle the extreme heat of 2,760 degrees Celsius, the spacecraft will use a skip reentry technique.
This involves dipping into the atmosphere to slow down, popping back out briefly like a stone skipping on water, and then entering for the final time.
This method helps reduce the gravitational forces on the crew and allows for a more precise landing.
WHERE IS THE ARTEMIS 2 SPLASHDOWN LOCATION?
The mission will conclude with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego. A recovery team from the US Navy, led by the USS John P. Murtha, is already in position to retrieve the crew.
Once the capsule’s parachutes deploy and it hits the water, divers will secure the ship and help the four astronauts onto the recovery vessel, marking the end of humanity’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years.
WATCH ARTEMIS-2 SPLASH DOWN LIVE HERE
