NASA says Artemis II entry change cut Orion heat-shield cracking and char loss tenfold

Engineers found nine areas of char loss after Artemis II, down from 103 after Artemis I, while the broader review found performance matched predictions.

Published October 16, 2026 · 11:48 AM ET

Side‑by‑side comparison of the heat shield backshell panels for NASA’s Artemis I and Artemis II missions. The left panel, labeled “Artemis I,” shows … — Side‑by‑side comparison of the heat shield backshell panels for NASA’s Artemis I and Artemis II missions. The left panel, labeled “Artemis I,” shows a circular heat shield with dark, irregularly weathered tiles. NASA · Public domain (NASA)

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