NASA
NASA assesses Orion heat shield after Artemis II splashdown
U.S. Navy divers recorded underwater views of Orion’s heat shield shortly after NASA’s Artemis II mission splashed down on April 10, 2026. In the following months, NASA evaluated whether the thermal protection system had effectively shielded the crew and spacecraft systems during reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
What to know
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U.S. Navy divers documented Orion’s heat shield underwater shortly after the Artemis II splashdown.
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NASA’s analysis in the following months examined the thermal protection system’s effectiveness during atmospheric reentry.
Why it matters
Assessing thermal protection performance is relevant to the safety of Orion’s crew and spacecraft systems during atmospheric reentry.
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