Mountain ViewArtemis II’s shield lost only nine char sites.
That’s down from over 100 sites on Artemis I, easing Artemis III’s timeline.
NASA didn’t rebuild the shield — it flew a steeper reentry, cutting the gas-trapping heating time that caused cracking.
Future Artemis missions get a more permeable Avcoat, restoring downrange distance lost this time.
How each outlet framed it
- Ars Technica
- steeper reentry angle reduces Avcoat cracking but cuts downrange capability 4,800→1,775 nautical miles
Sources: Ars Technica