CBC News provided live coverage Sunday of the Artemis 2 mission’s return to Earth, detailing the challenges and preparations for the crew’s re-entry and splashdown. The Orion capsule, nicknamed Integrity, is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean.

Re-entry Challenges

A six-minute communication blackout is expected during re-entry as the spacecraft encounters intense heat, reaching approximately 2,700 degrees Celsius. According to the broadcast, the capsule will be travelling at almost 40,000 kilometers per hour upon entering the atmosphere.

The heat shield is designed to ablate, or wear away, to dissipate heat. During the Artemis 1 mission, gases built up inside the heat shield, causing chunks to fall off. This occurred during the 'skip' phase, when the capsule briefly re-entered and exited the atmosphere. This time, the capsule will take a more direct trajectory, resulting in higher temperatures.

Commentators noted that NASA engineers have addressed the heat shield issue, but a former astronaut interviewed by the New York Times expressed concerns about the safety of Artemis 2. NASA has conducted extensive tests and independent reviews, concluding the heat shield is safe for this mission, though a redesigned shield is planned for future flights.

Inside the capsule, astronauts will experience forces up to four times their weight during re-entry. During the blackout period, the crew will be able to see the hot plasma surrounding the capsule through the windows.

According to mission control transmissions relayed during the broadcast, the capsule’s flight path angle is within acceptable limits. Dr. Roberta Bonder, a former Canadian astronaut, explained that the capsule can make minor adjustments to its flight path during re-entry.

Dr. Bonder also noted that the astronauts will be actively observing and recording data throughout the re-entry process, acting as observers and data collectors.