Underwater inspections and months of analysis confirmed that the Orion heat shield protected the crew and spacecraft during reentry.
01Summary
- 01Artemis II splashed down on April 10, 2026.
- 02U.S. Navy divers took underwater images of the Orion heat shield shortly after splashdown.
- 03NASA analysed whether the thermal protection system safeguarded the crew and Orion systems during reentry.
- 04The analysis confirmed the heat shield performed as expected.
02Why it matters
This confirms the safety of reentry systems for future crewed lunar missions, validating key technology for NASA's return to the Moon.
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