Artemis 2 heat shield is a sunken treasure in the ocean | Space photo of the day for April 28, 2026

image via Space.com

April 28, 2026, 2:26 PM

• •The Artemis 2 mission concluded with a successful splashdown.
• •The heat shield protected the capsule from temperatures reaching 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
• •The Orion capsule will be studied at Kennedy Space Center.
• •Chelsea Gohd served as a Senior Writer for Space.com

The Artemis 2 mission successfully returned its crew, splashing down off the coast of San Diego on April 10th. A striking underwater photograph reveals the heat shield, resembling a submerged relic. This image captures the aftermath of the capsule's journey through Earth's atmosphere, where it endured extreme temperatures. Analysis of the capsule and heat shield will continue as NASA prepares for future crewed missions.

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