April 10, 2026
The Orion spacecraft is set to make a dramatic return to Earth, bringing back four astronauts after a landmark mission to the Moon—marking humanity’s first such journey in more than half a century.
Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside their Canadian colleague Jeremy Hansen, are nearing the end of the historic Artemis II mission. After spending 10 remarkable days in deep space, the crew is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 02:00 AM (Macedonian time).
The re-entry phase is considered one of the most dangerous parts of the mission. The Orion capsule will slam into Earth’s atmosphere at a staggering speed of around 40,235 km/h, while temperatures outside the spacecraft are expected to reach up to 2,760 degrees Celsius.
Experts warn that any failure in the heat shield could have catastrophic consequences, as there are no emergency escape options available for astronauts during this critical stage.
The heat shield, located on the underside of the spacecraft, is a specially engineered protective layer designed to withstand extreme temperatures and safeguard the crew during re-entry—making it a vital component of the mission’s success.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that “we will only breathe easier once the astronauts safely pass through re-entry and are under parachutes in the ocean,” near the coast of San Diego.
A live stream of the landing is available at the link provided at the end of the original article.