Artemis II returns to Earth

NASA officials have expressed confidence in the Orion spacecraft's heat shield as it prepares to endure temperatures reaching 2,760 degrees Celsius during its descent.

The mission, which included three Americans and one Canadian, marked the first crewed voyage to the vicinity of the moon in over half a century.

Recovery teams from the U.S. Navy are positioned off the coast of San Diego to retrieve the capsule and its occupants following the parachute-assisted landing.

Despite a known issue with a minor helium leak, mission controllers insist the return trajectory remains safe for the crew.