KENTUCKY: From Kentucky to deep space: UK research supports Artemis II return, future exploration

NASA's Artemis II shows how research — right here in Kentucky — is helping address one of human spaceflight’s most dangerous challenges: surviving the fiery return to Earth. “Whatever kinetic energy you have coming back from the moon has to go somewhere,” Alexandre Martin, Ph.D., professor of aerospace engineering and director of the Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and NASA EPSCoR programs, said. “And most of it becomes heat. Without a heat shield, there is no safe return.”