The capsule will splash down off the coast of Baja California around 12:40 p.m. ET on Sunday (Dec. 11).
During reentry, Orion will experience temperatures of around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit — about half as hot as the surface of. The capsule's heat shield will have to bear that thermal burden, protecting the rest of the spacecraft.
This will be a huge test for the heat shield, which is brand-new and has yet to face such extreme conditions. At 16.5 feet wide, it is the largest heat shield of its kind.capable of replicating hypersonic reentry with a heat shield of this size," Sarafin said. If all goes according to plan, Orion will splash down Sunday at about 12:40 p.m. EST in the Pacific Ocean, off the western coast of Baja California. The site is about 300 miles south of the original target landing zone, which was close to San Diego. The change was made to escape expected inclement weather farther north, mission team members explained on Thursday.
A U.S. Navy ship, the USS Portland, will be waiting in the area to recover Orion and haul the capsule back to San Diego. From there, Orion will make its way to NASA's
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