New footage shows moment Orion capsule hatch is opened at sea
New footage captures the moment Orion capsule hatch is opened at sea
A newly released video documents the pivotal instant when a recovery team unlatched the hatch of Artemis II’s Orion capsule following its splashdown on Friday, 10 April. The four astronauts aboard—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—were greeted with enthusiastic cheers as their condition was confirmed safe and stable. This mission marked a significant milestone, as the crew ventured farther from Earth than any humans had previously traveled.
Notable events during the mission
Meanwhile, Steve Backshall recorded a rare sighting of two UK orcas, calling it one of his “greatest British wildlife moments.” Across the globe, landmarks such as France’s Eiffel Tower and Barcelona’s Sagrada Família Basilica dimmed for an hour on Saturday night. The Space Launch System (SLS), towering 98 meters high, and the Orion spacecraft undertook a four-mile journey from their assembly facility to Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Weather and scientific highlights
Storm Therese brought unexpected snowfall to Tenerife, impacting the Canary Islands. BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh explored the implications of an astronaut falling ill in space. During the year, stargazers were captivated by celestial events, including meteor showers and supermoons, with one astronomical occurrence filmed at North York Moors National Park on 13 August.
Additional updates
The Met Office issued yellow weather alerts for wind and rain in the UK. Baroness Kathy Willis emphasized the role of urban green and blue spaces in enhancing city life. Researchers analyzing ice samples uncovered an environmental record spanning over a million years. A veteran animal rights activist, who studied chimps, passed away at 91. President Trump linked rising UK energy costs to wind power, a claim scrutinized by BBC Verify’s Ben Chu.
London Zoo’s annual weigh-in
London Zoo in Regent’s Park conducted its yearly animal weigh-in, assessing over 10,000 creatures to track health and wellbeing. Separately, scientists examining the atmosphere of planet K2-18b detected molecules typically produced by simple Earth organisms, offering intriguing insights into exoplanetary life possibilities.
