Artemis II astronauts head for home, wrapping up final tests and experiments
CBS News • • science
Key Points:
- The Artemis II astronauts are preparing for reentry and splashdown on Friday after completing a historic piloted mission around the moon, with plans for a news conference and manual piloting tests of their Orion capsule.
- The crew demonstrated precise manual control of the spacecraft, crucial for potential future dockings with lunar landers if automatic systems fail.
- Flight controllers are finalizing the reentry timeline while Navy recovery teams are en route to the expected splashdown site off the Southern California coast near San Diego.
- Scientists at Johnson Space Center are analyzing thousands of photos and video taken by the crew over the moon's far side, marking the first time humans have seen these areas in daylight, providing new insights into the moon's evolution.
- The mission has proceeded smoothly with only minor issues, including a problem with the spacecraft's toilet system, which has not significantly impacted the crew or mission safety.
