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As this illustration of the Apollo VIII command module reentering Earth shows, heat shields protect the crew capsule from high temperatures
NASA

Why NASA’s crew capsule had heat shield issues during Artemis I

By Marcos Fernandez Tous / The Conversation

NASA's Orion Capsule is drawn into the well deck of the USS Portland during recovery operations after it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, on December 11, 2022. - Orion was launched November 16 on the Artemis rocket for a 25-day mission to the Moon. The main goal of this mission was to test Orion's heat shield -- for the day when it is humans and not test mannequins riding inside. (Photo by Mario Tama / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MARIO TAMA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Space X

How NASA and SpaceX get spacecraft safely back on Earth

By Marcos Fernandez Tous / The Conversation