The Scariest Part of Artemis II Hasn't Happened Yet

TL;DR

Artemis II's most dangerous moment is re-entry, where the crew hits Mach 32 and relies on an improved heat shield after Artemis I's wore away unexpectedly.

Key Points

• 1.Re-entry sets a new human speed record. The crew will hit the atmosphere at 32 times the speed of sound, faster than any human has ever traveled.
• 2.The heat shield is the critical risk after Artemis I's shield eroded more than expected. It uses an ablative material that wears away to carry heat off, and NASA updated Artemis II's trajectory to reduce prolonged high-temperature exposure.
• 3.A plasma blackout will briefly cut radio contact during the 10-minute re-entry. Superheated atmospheric atoms form a plasma wall around the capsule before parachutes deploy for a Pacific Ocean splashdown — and this is only mission two of four.