NASA's Artemis 2 mission is set to culminate with a live-streamed splashdown off the California coast this Friday, marking a significant milestone as the crew approaches their return from a historic round-the-moon journey. The crew, which includes mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, has successfully navigated the halfway point between Earth and the moon.
During the mission, the astronauts have been testing critical systems of the Orion space capsule, which is equipped with a propulsion system, heat shield, and parachutes essential for a safe re-entry. Glover highlighted the intensity of their descent, stating they will enter the atmosphere at speeds nearing 40 times the speed of sound, with a goal to slow to approximately 20 miles per hour at touchdown.
NASA has been providing continuous live updates of the mission since its launch on April 1. On Friday, coverage will escalate with enhanced programming beginning at 3:30 p.m. PT. This mission is notable as it represents the first human journey around the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, and it lays the groundwork for a potential lunar landing by 2028.