Parachutes: A vital part of Artemis II’s trip home
Friction during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere will drastically slow the Orion capsule, cutting speeds from about 25,000 mph (40,000 km/h).
As the Orion spacecraft returns to Earth, friction from atmospheric re-entry will sharply reduce its velocity. That heating and drag are expected to slow the capsule from a potential 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 kilometers per hour).