Happening today
• Splashdown day: NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen woke up at 11:35 a.m. ET to “Run to the Water” by Live and “Free” by Zac Brown Band. They will soon start preparing for their reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
• What to expect: The astronauts will hit the top of Earth’s atmosphere at an altitude of 400,000 feet and traveling about 30 times the speed of sound. Reentry is expected to begin at 7:53 p.m. ET and 14 minutes later the crew is expected to splashdown off the coast of San Diego, at 8:07 p.m. ET.
• Preparations in California: The USS John P. Murtha Navy recovery vessel is standing by to assist with removing the astronauts from their Orion capsule and providing them with medical evaluations.
The first food the astronauts want to eat upon returning may surprise you
After being off planet for 10 days, the Artemis II astronauts have made their first meal request on Earth loud and clear.
The biggest request? Uncrustable sandwiches. The Navy has ensured that the recovery vessel has an “abundant amount.”
And in response, the brand has promised to provide the crew with a lifetime supply upon their return. However, it’s unclear whether the astronauts can accept infinite Uncrustables because there are limits on gifts government employees can accept.
The astronauts’ ask may not come as a surprise because bread, or sandwiches in any form, are a big no-no in space since they release crumbs, which can get stuck in equipment and cause hazards.
Here’s what some of the food options looked like for the astronauts while in space:
A NASA food scientist shares with CNN’s Randi Kaye some of the food options the crew has been eating during the 10-day journey.
Artemis II’s journey to the moon started with a meeting snafu
When NASA unveiled Artemis II crew on April 3, 2023, I sat down to interview the four astronauts at the Johnson Space Center. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen had just been introduced on a stage, and I described them as NASA’s new “cosmic rock stars.” I asked them how they received the news that they had been selected for the first journey to the moon in more than 50 years.
“The story about how we all learned … it’s not as graceful as you might think,” Koch said.
The astronauts had received a meeting request in their calendars, and the subject line apparently wasn’t something they found terribly exciting. Two of the four astronauts accidentally showed up “very late” to the meeting.
“And as soon as we walked in, we realized we had perhaps disappointed one of them,” Koch recalled.
But when they all arrived, Norm Knight, NASA’s Director of Flight Operations asked if they would like to fly on Artemis II.
“Took myself speechless for a little bit,” Koch said. “But my answer to him was, ‘Sir, it would be an honor.’”
Revisit the moment when Artemis II named a moon crater after astronaut Wiseman's late wife
Artemis II astronauts identified two new craters on the lunar surface and suggested naming one Integrity for their Orion spacecraft, and the other Carroll for Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife. Carroll Taylor Wiseman, a nurse in a newborn intensive care unit, died in 2020 following a battle with cancer. “There was not a dry eye in the control room when they did that,” NASA’s Dr. Nicola Fox told CNN later.
After the Artemis II mission surpassed Apollo 13’s distance record, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen requested, on behalf of his crew, to name two relatively recent craters on the moon. One will be named Integrity for the Orion spacecraft and the other will be named Carroll to honor Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, who died in 2020 following a battle with cancer.
Artemis II astronauts share messages for their families ahead of return
During their final public affairs event of the mission Thursday night, each crew member took the time to send messages to their children.
“Ellie and Katie, I love you,” Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman said, addressing his two daughters, adding that their support has been “unbelievable.”
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen told his three children that he learns more from them than they learn from him, while NASA astronaut Christina Koch thanked her nine nieces and nephews for the letters and drawings of Earth and rockets that “truly touched my mission and I feel like you’re here with me.”
NASA astronaut Victor Glover addressed his four daughters, as well as children around the globe.
Wiseman, so impressed by what Glover said, remarked, “Wow, why do I ever answer questions around you guys?”
Zac Brown Band shares bonus wakeup song and message for the crew
The crew were also treated to a bonus wake-up song, “Free” by Zac Brown Band, followed by a prerecorded message from the band.
“We hope that piece of our song ‘Free’ helps start your day with the right kind of lift,” Brown said. “We just want to say how proud we are of you. It takes courage, grit and freedom to chase the unknown. It’s the purest kind of American spirit. Millions back home are looking up and feeling more inspired because of you. Keep flying strong. Keep flying safe. We can’t wait to welcome you home. Come see us on the road.”
Wiseman responded, “Courage and grit, that will stick with me, and it should stick with all of you, all day long.”
"Run to the Water" is the crew's final wake-up song of the mission
“Run to the Water” by LIVE just played to wake the crew up for their final day of the mission.
On Wednesday, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen teased, “my second favorite song will be on landing day, but I’ll let you wait to see what that one is. I think it’s appropriate for the day.”
The Artemis II astronauts told CNN how they were preparing for reentry
CNN’s Jackie Wattles asked the Artemis II crew about how they’re going to think about their historic journey around the moon and prepare for reentry. Pilot Victor Glover described why that question felt so big to answer.
CNN’s Jackie Wattles asks the Artemis II crew about re-entry in a couple of days, and a wider question even pilot Victor Glover had a difficult time responding to.
This is how Orion slows down to safely land in the ocean
As the Orion capsule returns to Earth and prepares for splashdown, maximum velocity is expected to reach as much as 35,000 feet per second.
NASA Orion Parachute Systems Manager Jared Daum explains how three sets of parachutes slow the capsule down to land at about 19 miles per hour.
Apollo astronaut recalls what it feels like to hurtle toward Earth
Former NASA astronaut Charlie Duke, one of only 12 human beings to walk on the moon, tells CNN’s Erin Burnett about what it feels like to reenter Earth’s atmosphere at unbelievable speeds.
Duke, 90, piloted the lunar module during the 1972 Apollo 16 mission and was the youngest astronaut to walk on the lunar surface.
It's return day for Artemis II. Here's what to expect
The Artemis II mission is coming to an end and the crew — NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — is returning to Earth. Here’s a timeline for today. Some times are subject to change:
- The crew wakes up at 11:35 a.m. ET.
- The crew begins to configure the inside of the Orion spacecraft for reentry beginning at 1:50 p.m. ET.
- Return trajectory correction burn 3 will occur at 2:53 p.m ET, a fine tuning maneuver to precisely put Orion on the right entry corridor for splashdown.
- The crew will move into their entry checklist at 5:05 p.m. ET.
- NASA’s special live coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.
- Orion will experience a communications handover at 7:15 p.m., transitioning it from the Deep Space Network to satellites in low-Earth orbit.
- Orion will separate from the service module that has helped power its journey in space at 7:33 p.m. ET.
- The crew module raise burn will occur at 7:37 p.m. ET, slightly adjusting Orion’s angle to finely tune how it enters Earth’s atmosphere (and how much heating it endures).
- Orion will reenter Earth’s atmosphere at an altitude of 400,000 feet at 7:53 p.m. ET, traveling at about 30 times the speed of sound.
- An expected 6-minute communications blackout with Orion will ensue as heat and plasma build up around the vehicle.
- The vehicle will endure peak heating at 7:54 p.m. ET, experiencing temperatures from 4,000 to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Orion will conduct a series of roll maneuvers to reduce velocity.
- A series of parachute deployments will begin at 8:03 p.m. ET to slow Orion down during its descent, with the main parachutes releasing at 8:04 p.m. ET.
- Splashdown is expected to occur off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. ET.
- NASA and the US Navy expect to retrieve the crew from Orion and bring them aboard a recovery vessel within two hours.
