The Artemis II crew has safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, completing a historic mission orbiting the Moon and returning to Earth for the first time in over 50 years.The four astronauts parachuted into the sea off the Southern California coast at 5:07 pm Pacific time after a high-speed re-entry that tested the Orion capsule's heat shield.The crew members-NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen-completed a 10-day voyage that took them farther into space than any humans have traveled before.They looped around the far side of the Moon, testing critical spacecraft systems including... [Continue Reading]
The Artemis II mission is nearing its conclusion as the crew prepares for a critical moment in their historic journey, which marks the first crewed moon voyage in over half a century. On Friday, the astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are organizing for a fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere and a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of Southern California. After a celebrated ten-day mission, the crew is expected to safely return to Earth following a series of vital maneuvers. Earlier today, the Orion crew capsule performed an essential eight-second thruster firing, a maneuver designed to... [Continue Reading]
After a 10-day journey around the far side of the Moon, the four astronauts on NASAâs Artemis II mission are set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean late on Friday.n. The historic mission, which set a record during its lunar flyby for how far humans have ventured into space, was a significant step towards a return to the Moon's surface for the first time since 1972 â as well as laying the foundation for future space exploration. The UNâs advocate for space, internationally acclaimed physicist, author and broadcaster Professor Brian Cox told the UN: âItâs not just about exploration... [Continue Reading]