NASA Recovers Artemis 1 Manikins from Orion Spacecraft

Space is a dangerous place

The two torsos, along with the Astrorad radiation vest. Photo: NASA/Kim Shiflett

At its maximum distance, Orion was 268,554 miles (432,194 kilometers) from Earth, setting a new record for a passenger-rated spacecraft. That’s far from Earth’s protective magnetosphere and a dangerous place for astronauts, as far as exposure to radiation is concerned. To prepare for future crewed missions, Helga and Zohar participated in the Matroshka AstroRad Radiation Experiment (MARE) investigation, a collaboration between the German Space Agency (DLR) and Israeli firm StemRad.

Previous Next

As Starship V3 Lags Behind, Blue Origin Prepares Third Launch of New Glenn

SpaceX needs to get Starship V3 off the ground soon if it doesn't want to lose its Artemis 3 contract to Blue Origin.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 14

The undercarriage of the Orion spacecraft is clearly visible in this image taken just before Artemis 2 splashdown

NASA Sets the Record Straight on That ‘Missing Chunk’ of Artemis 2’s Heat Shield

Social media users were quick to point out what looks like a large piece of missing material from the bottom of the spacecraft.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 13

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashes down, concluding the Artemis 2 mission on April 10, 2026

Picture Perfect: Artemis 2 Returns Home After a Stellar 10 Days in Space

Integrity has splashed down off the coast of San Diego, bringing the Artemis 2 astronauts home.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 10

Gizmodo’s Live Coverage of NASA’s Artemis 2 Mission

NASA's Artemis 2 mission returned to Earth on April 10, but you can still check out all of Gizmodo's live mission coverage.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe and George Dvorsky Apr 10

An artistic rendering of NASA's Orion spacecraft returning to Earth

Artemis 2 Is Coming in Hot Today—Here Are the 4 Critical Phases to Watch

Each step of the Orion spacecraft’s atmospheric reentry is essential to crew safety.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 10

During its lunar flyby, the Artemis 2 crew captured cratered terrain, revealing the Moon’s rugged, collision-scarred surface.

Gizmodo’s Favorite Photos From NASA’s Artemis 2 Mission

The Artemis 2 crew has beamed tons of incredible photos back to Earth. Here's a look at our favorite shots.

Space & Spaceflight Ellyn Lapointe Apr 9