Why re-entry is the most dangerous part of Artemis II, and how NASA is trying to make it safer
By Ninfa Saavedra
Published on April 9, 2026.
The most dangerous part of NASA's Artemis II mission is re-entry, as astronauts return to Earth at speeds of nearly 25,000mph, creating temperatures around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The only thing standing between the astronauts and this heat is a specially designed heat shield. This issue arose during the Artemis I mission in 2022, when engineers found unexpected cracking and charring on the heat shield, which led to pieces of material breaking away. NASA has now resolved this issue and is adjusting its mission around it. It is altering the re-enter trajectory and improving the material used to vent gases, and has implemented improvements to prevent pressure buildup. Despite concerns from some experts, NASA officials are confident that the spacecraft can bring astronauts home safely.
Related Articles
Artemis crew home safely after completing historic mission to the Moon
Nasa's Artemis II astronauts returned safely from a historic nine-day mission to the Moon, successfully landing in the Pacific Ocean after a near-perfect landing due to extreme heat and heat.
The Optimism of Artemis II and the Cynicism of the Moon’s Future
The Artemis II mission showcased humanity’s collaborative nature, but also highlights the need to explore the moon for peaceful, sustainable reasons and resource wars.
A zebra that ran to the end: why Peter Beard’s unflinching photography of African wildlife still haunts us 60 years on
Peter Beard's unflinching photography of African wildlife, published 60 years ago, remains crucial for understanding and understanding a crisis in the region's ecology.