Jeff Holm Vice Provost for Strategic Programming, Analytics, & Effectiveness | University of North Dakota
Jeff Holm Vice Provost for Strategic Programming, Analytics, & Effectiveness | University of North Dakota
On December 12, 2024, The Conversation published an article by Marcos Fernandez-Tous, assistant professor in Space Studies. The piece discusses the significance of heat shields on spacecraft under NASA's Artemis mission to ensure safe re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
The article highlights that the uncrewed Artemis I mission experienced significant damage to its heat shield during reentry on December 11, 2022. This damage delayed subsequent missions and prompted engineers to address these issues before the next launch, now targeted for April 2026.
Fernandez-Tous explains how the Orion capsule's reentry involved skimming Earth's atmosphere to reduce velocity and heat stress. Despite these precautions, temperatures reached about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius), causing severe wear on the heat shield.
NASA officials announced on December 5, 2024, that Artemis II will have a modified reentry trajectory to prevent similar problems from occurring again.
Questions regarding writing for The Conversation can be directed to Tom Dennis or Adam Kurtz at UND.
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