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 instant a recovery team unlatched the hatch of Artemis II’s Orion capsule following its splashdown. The moment marked a celebratory reunion with the four astronauts inside: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The crew was confirmed safe and in good condition, sparking jubilant reactions from the team on board.
The historic mission achieved a milestone by sending astronauts farther from Earth than any human before. As the capsule descended, the crew’s survival was a major triumph. Meanwhile, Steve Backshall, during a separate expedition, noted the rare sighting of two of the UK’s last surviving orcas, calling it one of his “greatest British wildlife moments.”
“The sight of those orcas was unforgettable,” Backshall remarked, highlighting the significance of the encounter.
On Saturday, iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona were briefly darkened as part of a global initiative. In Florida, the 98-meter Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft undertook a four-mile journey from their assembly facility to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, setting the stage for the mission.
Back on Earth, severe weather gripped the Canary Islands as Storm Therese blanketed Tenerife with snow. BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh detailed the challenges of medical emergencies in space, explaining the protocols for astronauts who fall ill during missions.
Amid the space focus, other natural phenomena captivated observers. Meteor showers and supermoons were among the highlights of the year for stargazers, with one event recorded in North York Moors National Park on 13 August. The Met Office also issued yellow weather alerts for wind and rain, signaling potential disruptions across the UK.
Baroness Kathy Willis emphasized the role of urban green and blue spaces in promoting well-being. Her insights were part of a broader discussion on environmental sustainability. Separately, samples from ancient ice sheets provide a record spanning over a million years, offering critical climate data.
News of a prominent animal rights activist’s passing at 91 brought attention to their groundbreaking work with chimpanzees. Meanwhile, President Trump attributed rising UK energy costs to wind power, a claim scrutinized by BBC Verify’s Ben Chu.
At London Zoo, over 10,000 animals were weighed and measured during their annual health check. In the realm of space exploration, researchers analyzing the atmosphere of planet K2-18b detected molecular signatures akin to those produced by simple Earth organisms, hinting at potential signs of life.
