After an epic journey around the Moon, the four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission are scheduled to return to Earth today. The Orion spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at 8:07 PM Florida time (Saturday, 5:37 AM IST). Scientists have flagged today as the most perilous day of the entire mission, primarily due to the complexities of the atmospheric re-entry.

As Orion hits the Earth’s atmosphere at a staggering speed of 40,000 kmph, the friction will generate a terrifying 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit of heat. During the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, the heat shield suffered significant erosion, prompting a deep investigation by NASA. This time, with four human lives on board, the stakes are sky-high.

To minimize the risk, NASA has implemented a “Steeper Entry” maneuver, designed to reduce the time the spacecraft spends in the peak heating zone. During this phase, radio communication will be briefly lost, and the astronauts will experience intense gravitational forces. NASA engineers are currently monitoring every thermal component and microscopic detail to ensure that the “Avcoat” protective layer functions perfectly for a safe splashdown.