New footage shows moment Orion capsule hatch is opened at sea
New footage shows moment Orion capsule hatch is opened at sea
Recent video footage has captured the critical moment when recovery teams accessed the hatch of the Orion capsule following its splashdown. The clip highlights the triumphant return of four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—who were greeted with enthusiasm by the crew. Their safe landing on Friday, 10 April, marked the culmination of a historic mission, as they ventured farther from Earth than any humans before.
Excitement erupted among the recovery team as the astronauts emerged, all in good health. This achievement underscores the success of Artemis II, which set a new record for distance traveled beyond our planet. Meanwhile, a separate highlight from Saturday evening saw global landmarks like France’s Eiffel Tower and Barcelona’s Sagrada Família Basilica dim for an hour, drawing attention to a unique astronomical event.
“This was one of my greatest British wildlife moments,” said Steve Backshall, who documented the rare sight of two of the UK’s last surviving orcas.
As part of the mission’s preparations, the 98-meter Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft embarked on a four-mile journey from their assembly facility to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The footage also includes a brief mention of other events, such as Tenerife experiencing snowfall due to Storm Therese’s impact on the Canary Islands.
Additional updates from BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh explore the challenges of space medicine, detailing what occurs if an astronaut falls ill during a mission. Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for wind and rain across the UK, while London Zoo conducted its annual weigh-in, assessing the wellbeing of over 10,000 animals.
Elsewhere, researchers analyzing the atmosphere of planet K2-18b identified molecular signatures typically linked to Earth-based simple organisms. BBC Verify’s Ben Chu examined the data to provide clarity on this discovery. The event was recorded in North York Moors National Park on 13 August, offering a rare glimpse into celestial phenomena.
