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.
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.
