Artemis ii heat shield skip reentry – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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NASA’s Artemis II mission to fly around the far side of the Moon

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Artemis II’s heat shield is about to be put to the test.

When the four astronauts aboard Orion return to Earth tonight, they’ll rely on a heat shield that NASA has admitted is flawed. Former astronaut Dr. Charlie Camarda told the New York Times that NASA never should’ve launched Artemis II, guessing there’s a 95 percent chance it will return safely.

CNN explains Artemis II’s “lofted” entry has been adjusted to try to limit the unexpected charring on the Artemis I heat shield, and National Geographic also went in-depth. YouTube, Netflix, and others will broadcast the landing starting at 6:30PM ET.

Infographic featuring the Artemis II Orion lofted entry sequence.
Image: NASA
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