As NASA's Artemis II mission prepares to conclude its historic journey to the moon, astronauts on board are gearing up for a high-stakes return to Earth. After a series of groundbreaking tests and record-breaking achievements, including witnessing a lunar eclipse and testing the space agency's new space toilet, the crew is now facing a critical phase: re-entry. With temperatures soaring up to 5,000 degrees Celsius and forces equivalent to 25 times the force of gravity, the astronauts will need to endure a grueling 16-minute descent through the Earth's atmosphere to safely splash down in the Pacific Ocean. As they navigate this treacherous final stretch, NASA officials will be holding their breath, hoping for a successful outcome that will pave the way for future manned missions to the moon and beyond.
After swooping around the moon, viewing an eclipse, breaking an Apollo distance record and testing out a space toilet, NASA's Artemis II mission is about to return to Earth. Here's what the astronauts must face to make it safely home.
