Meithan West

@space_jm_ @SciGuySpace I think you're right on the money: deposition from ablated material in the compression pads (the four attachment points between the heatshield and the service moduel).

@SciGuySpace I think it's literally this - coking from the exposed ESM attachment spot

Not an expert so I can't really comment on this. But hopefully NASA will soon. nasa.gov/image-detail/d…

I am hesitant to get ahead of a proper data review, but I understand the space community’s curiosity, especially when imagery can give the impression of a problem. As you would expect, engineers were eager to inspect the heat shield, starting with diver imagery shortly after splashdown and continuing with the review aboard the ship. No unexpected conditions were observed. I suspect when the images are released, it will be pretty obvious the stark difference between Artemis I and Artemis II head shield performance. As to the question specifically, the discoloration was not liberated material. The white color observed corresponds to the compression pad area and is consistent with the local geometry, AVCOAT byproducts, and transitional heating environments. We observed this behavior in arc jet testing and expected it in this compression pad area. We will complete a full data review across all systems, including the thermal protection system, and make the results publicly available.

Weather satellites were able to see both the Artemis II launch and re-entry. Space is cool, satellites are cool. It's all cool!!!

Holy Mach Diamonds NASA...

@Shearin_J_Gary @NASAScience_ @NASAArtemis I think that's Barringer crater. The linear features you highlight are likely hills/ridges, accentuated here by the shadows created by the low solar illumination.

@NASAScience_ @NASAArtemis Does this distinctive crater have a name?

Observing the Moon ✅ Now it’s your turn. We’re inviting skilled observers to monitor the Moon’s surface for meteoroid‑impact flashes using a telescope with video capability. Your recordings will help quantify impact rates and refine models of crater formation and lunar interior response. More: science.nasa.gov/citizen-scienc…

Hi! I’m Rise! About a week ago, I launched aboard the Artemis II mission with four of my besties. Since then, I have been serving a very important purpose aboard the Orion spacecraft… I float. (And I look cute.) Today, I am taking over the Artemis social media accounts! -Rise

It's not just a phase 🌕 Artemis II astronauts captured these views of the Moon as the Orion spacecraft flew around the far side of the Moon on April 6, 2026.

Hello, Moon. It’s great to be back. Here’s a taste of what the Artemis II astronauts photographed during their flight around the Moon. Check out more photos from the mission: nasa.gov/artemis-ii-mul…

@Landa23 ¡Gracias, Emmanuel! ¡Un saludo!

Visualizador Interactivo Artemis 2 by @meithan42 meithan.net/artemis2/ ... Cool 🤓

@astroGriggs Another shot. She couldn't contain her excitement.

Dr. Young hearing the crew report seeing FOUR impact flashes during the eclipse so far. Love this for the entire science team.

@NStewWX Oof, can't wait to see it! That's gonna be one of the iconic pictures of this mission!

The reactions of the #Artemis II astronauts to their photos of the Earth and the moon in the same frame are wholesome. Cannot wait to see these in full resolution, but the sneak peeks look amazing!

@JPMajor "After all the amazing sights we saw earlier, this is ... We just went sci-fi, it just looks unreal."

Quotes from the dark side: "We've got lots of stars...there are definitely stars. It's a wicked view..." "It is absolutely spectacular, surreal...there's no adjective to describe what we're seeing here." "We can absolutely see the color of Mars. That's awesome." #ArtemisII

New record🥇 The Artemis II astronauts are now farther from Earth than humans have ever been! At 1:57 p.m. EDT, they broke the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. Their journey around the far side of the Moon today will take them a maximum distance of 252,752 miles from Earth.

A new "even closer" view of the Moon from #ArtemisII during its flyby on April 6, 2026. The view of the 183-mile-wide Mare Orientale is amazing!

@NASAArtemis "The constellation Urion"

Since everyone always asks... 🤔 The universal waste management system aboard the Orion spacecraft is a compact, 5-cubic-foot toilet designed for microgravity. Solid waste is stored in odor-controlled canisters, while pre-treated urine is vented overboard daily.

We’re halfway there. At the time of posting this, the Artemis II mission is about halfway to the Moon. When the astronauts arrive, they will conduct a lunar flyby and collect scientific observations of the Moon’s surface.

Me he tomado la libertad y el tiempo de colocar el nombre a algunas de las estrellas y constelaciones que aparecen en la ya memorable imagen de la Tierra tomada por la Artemis II. Efectivamente, el punto brillante es Venus. Una foto para la historia.

ARTEMIS II AS SEEN BY THE OFFICIAL NASA CESSNA THIS IS THE BEST LAUNCH VIDEO AND IT ISN'T CLOSE