🚀🌊 What were those mysterious plumes coming out of Artemis II right before splashdown?

Added: 2026-05-06

During parachute descent, spacecraft use their Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters to reorient themselves so that the most robust structural portion contacts the water first, ensuring a safe landing; the plumes observed in infrared cameras during descent are caused by these thrusters firing in short bursts to achieve the proper orientation.