Kennedy Space Center, Florida – NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully completed the Artemis I mission in late 2021, marking a significant milestone in the agency’s exploration endeavors. The Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule executed a nearly flawless unpiloted flight around the Moon before returning to Earth, setting the stage for the upcoming Artemis II crew mission.
During Artemis I, engineers observed an unexpected issue with the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere. The heat shield, made of Avcoat material, experienced more charred material loss than anticipated, causing an uneven burn-off process. Despite this anomaly, the spacecraft landed safely in the Pacific Ocean, where post-flight inspections revealed the irregular charring.
NASA officials are actively investigating the root cause of the heat shield problem to ensure the safety of the upcoming Artemis II mission. The delay in launching Artemis II was announced in January 2025 due to unresolved issues surrounding the heat shield. Engineers have conducted wind tunnel and arc jet facility tests to better understand the irregular charring on Artemis I, nearing a final conclusion on the cause.
Although changes to the heat shield for Artemis II are unlikely, NASA has not ruled out modifications that could potentially delay the mission. Engineers are analyzing different reentry trajectories for Orion in Artemis II, considering skip reentry profiles to facilitate more precise splashdowns and reduce g-forces on the spacecraft and crew.
The investigation into the heat shield performance remains ongoing as NASA works towards approving the flight rationale for Artemis II. Discussions will also focus on ensuring the safety of Orion for future Artemis missions with higher-speed reentry profiles from lunar landings. In the meantime, preparations for Artemis II continue at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with the crew and service modules already joined in the spacecraft for environmental testing.
As NASA progresses with its Artemis missions, ensuring the safety and reliability of the Orion spacecraft remains a top priority to enable successful human exploration of the Moon and beyond. The agency’s dedication to resolving technical challenges and enhancing mission readiness reflects its commitment to advancing space exploration and pushing the boundaries of human understanding.