Artemis II’s fiery Earth return tests the heat shield’s limits
As Artemis II returns from its lunar flyby, the crew must rely on a heat shield designed to endure about 5,000 degrees of reentry heat, after Artemis I revealed permeability-driven damage. NASA validated a modified skip-entry trajectory and extensive testing to ensure the shield breathes properly and protects the crew, while the team remains cautiously confident ahead of a Pacific splashdown.