Here's what to expect from the fiery, 14-minute return of Artemis II

NASA is preparing Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft for its fiery return through Earth’s atmosphere, followed by parachute deployment and splashdown.

Recent reviews have increased confidence in the heat shield, but NASA officials say the actual flight remains the ultimate test.

If all goes normally, the crew will be recovered by USS John P. Murtha personnel and returned to Houston shortly afterward.

The mission is a critical dress rehearsal for Orion’s heat shield, parachutes, and recovery procedures ahead of future crewed lunar flights.