Artemis II crew will lose communication with mission control during reentry. Here's why
ABC News • • general
Key Points:
- The Artemis II crew is nearing the end of their 10-day mission, with reentry into Earth's atmosphere and splashdown scheduled for Friday, marking the most intense phase of their journey.
- During reentry, communication with the crew will be lost for about six minutes due to the plasma bubble formed by Orion's passage through Earth's atmosphere, unlike the previous 40-minute communication blackout behind the moon.
- Orion will enter the atmosphere at speeds over 24,000 mph, facing extreme heat up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, with the heat shield protecting the spacecraft and crew during this critical period.
- Astronauts inside Orion will focus on monitoring systems and following procedures despite the communication blackout, relying on extensive training to handle any potential failures.
- After emerging from the blackout, Orion will deploy parachutes to slow down for a safe splashdown off the coast of San Diego, scheduled for 5:07 p.m. PT/8:07 p.m. ET on April 10.
