The Artemis II crew is set to return to Earth after completing their lunar mission, with a splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean.

Context

The Artemis II mission marks a significant step in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and beyond, following a successful orbit around the Moon.S1S2

Key points

• The four astronauts are aboard the Orion spacecraft, which has completed its lunar mission.S1

• Splashdown is expected to occur off the coast of San Diego.S2

• The splashdown sequence will begin with the separation of the European Service Module.S2

• Re-entry and splashdown are considered the most dangerous phases of the mission.S2

• The Orion capsule will experience extreme temperatures during re-entry.S2

• The entire splashdown sequence takes approximately 42 minutes to complete.S2

• The mission is part of NASA's broader Artemis program aimed at lunar exploration.S1

• Successful splashdown will mark a key milestone for future Artemis missions.S1

Why it matters

• The Artemis II mission demonstrates advancements in space travel technology and safety.S1

• Successful re-entry and splashdown are critical for the viability of future lunar missions.S2

What to watch

• Monitor the splashdown event and the recovery operations that will follow.S1

• Watch for updates on the astronauts' health and mission debriefing after splashdown.S1