Artemis II crew prepares for reentry

The mission marks the first time humans have traveled to the far side of the moon in over half a century.

As they approach Earth, the crew must face the most dangerous phase of the mission: a hypersonic reentry into the atmosphere at 24,000 mph.

Engineers are closely monitoring the spacecraft's heat shield, which must withstand temperatures of 2,760°C during the descent.

The successful return is seen as a critical milestone for NASA's goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the lunar surface.