ORLANDO, Fla. – All eyes are on Friday evening as the crew of Artemis II returns home, splashing down off the coast of California.
Just as important as the weather is for launch, conditions also need to cooperate for their trip back.
While the forecast near the recovery zone in the Pacific, off the coast of San Diego, looks mostly favorable, it’s not perfect.
Friday forecast
A weak system may bring a few light rain showers (20%) over the open waters on Friday.
Outside of that, conditions look pretty close to ideal. As the capsule splashes down, wind and waves remain the two biggest factors for a safe recovery.
The latest forecast models show light winds and manageable wave heights between 5 and 6 feet.
NASA requires waves of less than 6 feet, wind speeds below 28.7 miles per hour, and no rain or lightning within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the splashdown location.
Splashdown is scheduled for Friday evening, around 8:07 p.m. EDT.