The Artemis 2 astronauts have officially begun their long journey back to Earth after a historic journey around the Moon.
At 10:55 pm IST on Tuesday, the Orion spacecraft exited the lunar sphere of influence, the specific region in space where the Moon’s gravity is the primary force acting on the ship.
Having successfully used 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?
Now that the spacecraft has cleared the Moon’s immediate vicinity, the crew is entering a three-day transit period back to our planet.
This phase of the mission is focused on preparing for the high-speed reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The astronauts will conduct several trajectory correction burns, which are short, precise engine firings designed to ensure the capsule hits the reentry corridor at the exact angle.
If the angle is too shallow, Orion could skip off the atmosphere like a stone on water; if it is too steep, the friction could cause excessive heat.
HOW WILL THE SPACECRAFT RETURN TO EARTH?
The final leg of the mission on Friday (April 10) will be the most intense.
Orion is scheduled to hit Earth’s 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, dipping into the atmosphere to slow down, popping back out briefly, and then entering for the final time.
This method helps reduce the gravitational forces on the crew and allows for a more precise landing in the Pacific Ocean.
WHERE WILL THE ASTRONAUTS LAND?
The mission is set to conclude with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego at approximately 5:37 am IST on April 11 (Saturday).
A recovery team from the US Navy, led by the USS John P Murtha, is already in position.
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.
This splashdown will mark the successful completion of the first human flight to the lunar frontier in over 50 years.
