Artemis astronauts face the most dangerous part of their mission, riding a fireball through the atmosphere' on re-entry

"The capsule will re-enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds of up to 25,000 miles per hour. It is essential that the spacecraft enters at the correct angle of inclination to avoid burning up, even though the exterior will be ablaze."

"Riding a fireball through the atmosphere is profound, Glover said at a press conference from space. The 49-year-old U.S. Navy officer, test pilot, and astronaut says he's been thinking about the moment of splashdown in the Pacific since April 2023."

"All eyes will be on the heat shield that protects the Orion spacecraft and its crew from the extremely high temperatures that will be reached during atmospheric reentry."

"About 40 minutes before falling to Earth, it will detach from the European Service Module. This component, built by European companies, has been essential to the mission, providing air, water, climate control, and propulsion for the journey from Earth to the Moon and back."

On April 10, the Artemis 2 crew will face a critical return to Earth, with the Orion spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of 25,000 miles per hour. The descent lasts 13 minutes, during which temperatures will exceed 2,700 degrees Celsius. Successful splashdown is planned in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, with a U.S. Navy ship on standby. The heat shield is crucial for protecting the crew during reentry, and the spacecraft will detach from the European Service Module before rotating for descent.

Read at english.elpais.com