NASA's Artemis 2 Splashdown: How To Watch Live Today
NASAs Artemis 2 Splashdown: How To Watch Live Today...
NASA's Artemis 2 mission is set to conclude today with a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking a critical milestone in America's return to lunar exploration. The event is trending nationwide as millions tune in to witness the first crewed Orion capsule recovery since the Apollo era. Here's how and where to watch the historic moment live.
The uncrewed Artemis 2 test flight launched last week from Kennedy Space Center, circling the Moon to validate systems for future astronaut missions. Today's reentry will subject the Orion spacecraft to temperatures nearing 5,000°F as it plunges through Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 mph before parachuting into waters off Baja California around 12:40 PM ET.
NASA will provide free live coverage starting at 11:00 AM ET on its official website (nasa.gov/nasatv) and YouTube channel. Major networks including CNN, Fox News, and NBC are also carrying the broadcast, while streaming services like Hulu Live TV and FuboTV offer coverage through their news packages. The Navy's USS John P. Murtha will recover the capsule approximately 200 nautical miles southwest of San Diego.
Public interest has surged due to Artemis 2 being the final test before NASA sends astronauts around the Moon on Artemis 3. "This splashdown proves our heat shield can protect crews during lunar returns," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during a pre-landing briefing. Social media platforms report over 1.2 million mentions of the event since yesterday.
Viewers should watch for two key moments: the capsule's "skip reentry" maneuver to reduce G-forces, and the 11 parachute deployment sequence. NASA's broadcast will include multiple camera angles from chase planes and recovery ships. The agency plans to reuse this Orion capsule for the Artemis 5 mission after refurbishment.
Today's successful splashdown would clear the way for Artemis 3's planned 2028 crewed lunar flyby. The program aims to land astronauts near the Moon's south pole by 2030, establishing a sustainable presence for scientific discovery and future Mars missions.
