How to watch NASA’s Artemis II splash back down to Earth

In an exciting culmination of their groundbreaking journey, NASA's Artemis II crew, comprising four astronauts from the United States and Canada, is poised to return to Earth this Friday after an extraordinary expedition to the far side of the Moon. The astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—have spent ten remarkable days aboard the Orion spacecraft. The re-entry process is scheduled to commence at 7:33 PM ET, with a splashdown anticipated at 8:07 PM. NASA will broadcast the event live, as the crew lands in the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of San Diego, California. This mission signifies a monumental achievement, marking the first time humans have ventured into the Moon's orbit in over half a century. During their journey, the crew traveled a staggering 252,760 miles from Earth, a distance akin to making the trip between New York City and Los Angeles approximately 100 times. They occupied a capsule with a habitable space of 330 cubic feet—roughly the size of two minivans. The primary aim of Artemis II was to gather vital data and insights to facilitate future lunar missions, with the astronauts conducting various tests to assess the spacecraft's performance in deep space. These tests included evaluating communication systems with mission control, making trajectory adjustments, and ensuring a safe re-entry and splashdown. One of the most critical phases of the mission is the splashdown, which poses significant risks. During the previous Artemis I mission in 2022, Orion's heat shield suffered unexpected damage upon re-entry. The shield, constructed from Avocoat material designed to withstand extreme temperatures nearing 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, showed signs of charring and cracking during its return. NASA emphasized that had Artemis I been crewed, the astronauts would have returned safely, and extensive investigations have since been conducted to understand the heat shield's failure. As the world awaits the safe return of the Artemis II crew, memories from their mission linger. Launched on April 1st, the astronauts faced some minor challenges early on, including technical issues with Microsoft Office and their onboard toilet. However, these were quickly eclipsed by the stunning images and data relayed back from their lunar flyby. They even named new lunar craters, including one dedicated to mission commander Wiseman's late wife, Carroll, who passed away from cancer in 2020. The crew experienced an unparalleled view during a total solar eclipse, witnessing the phenomenon from only a few thousand miles away from the Moon. "It wasn’t just an eclipse with the Sun hidden behind the Moon," remarked Koch, the mission specialist. "We could also see earthshine, the Sun’s light reflecting off Earth, wrapping the Moon in a soft, borrowed glow." The final stages of this historic mission are set to unfold live today.