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

When NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts on a path around the moon — farther from Earth than any humans have traveled in decades — the world watched in awe.

Yet, one of the most critical parts of the journey remained invisible.

For a team of faculty, staff and students in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at University of Kentucky, that unseen work is their expertise.

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.”

On this edition of “Behind the Blue,” researchers share how their work made the “Mission to the Moon” possible — offering an inside look at the innovation behind heat shield technology and the role UK plays in advancing it.

Turning speed into heat — and safety

A spacecraft reenters Earth’s atmosphere at extreme speeds — far exceeding those in low Earth orbit — where that velocity rapidly transforms into intense, searing heat upon descent.

In fact, the spacecraft endures temperatures of nearly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat shields are designed to absorb and dissipate that heat — protecting both the vehicle and its crew.

Unlike the reusable tiles on the space shuttle, missions returning from the Moon demand a fundamentally different approach.

“These missions need what’s called an ablative heat shield,” Michael Renfro, Ph.D., associate dean for faculty affairs and facilities and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, said. “The material actually wears away during re-entry. As it breaks down, it carries heat away and protects the vehicle.”

Designing that material is far from simple.

Learning from Artemis I

Following Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight launched in November 2022, NASA identified unexpected issues with the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield after small sections of material were lost during re-entry — prompting a nationwide effort to understand why.

UK researchers played a key role in understanding that failure.

“They sent us flight samples,” said Savio Poovathingal, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. “We looked at the material at incredibly small scales to understand how it behaved.”

The cause: gas buildup within the material that led to pieces breaking away under extreme conditions.

The material is made of a porous structure filled with resin. During re-entry, the resin decomposes, creating gases that push outward, helping shield the vehicle from incoming heat. If those gases cannot escape efficiently, pressure builds inside the material — potentially leading to cracking or failure.

Using advanced imaging and measurement tools, UK researchers analyzed the microscopic structure of the material and how it influenced gas flow.

The work has contributed to ongoing improvements leading up to the launch of Artemis II.

“Our goal was to connect structure to performance,” Poovathingal said. “Once you understand that relationship, you can help improve the design.”

An inspection of the heat shield shortly after the capsule’s April 10 splashdown indicated a successful performance. Although the findings are preliminary, NASA will continue testing in the months ahead.

“We leaned under and looked at the bottom of that thing, and for just four humans looking at a heat shield, it looked wonderful to us,” Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut, said in a press release.

A full-spectrum research program

UK’s role in the Artemis program is part of a broader effort.

Faculty in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering bring expertise in computational modeling, fluid dynamics and laboratory experimentation to study physical processes critical to hypersonic flight, such as ablation, pyrolysis and permeability.

In addition to their work with NASA, UK researchers have developed and flown re-entry capsules in space multiple times — gathering valuable data on re-entry conditions. Their expertise extends beyond NASA partnerships, as they have collaborated on thermal protection systems and hypersonic research with the Department of Defense, the European Space Agency and the international academic community.

The latest iteration of that program includes 12 capsules currently aboard the International Space Station — each carrying different heat shield materials.

They are expected to return later this year.

“These experiments allow us to validate what we predict,” Martin said.

Students at the center

Through these efforts, the college has also emphasized education and workforce development, training students at every level — from undergraduate researchers to Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral fellows — to contribute to advancements in aerospace technology.

“They’re not just helping — they’re leading,” Poovathingal said. “They run the experiments, analyze the results and develop new techniques.”

For many, the opportunity is transformative.

“Some of these students are the first in their families to pursue higher education,” Poovathingal continued. “Then, they find themselves working on NASA missions. It changes what they believe is possible.”

That experience often leads directly to careers in aerospace, with graduates joining NASA, federal laboratories and private industry — or remaining in Kentucky, where aerospace is the state’s largest export sector.

Building toward the future

For those involved in the research, Artemis II’s safe return represents more than a scientific milestone. It’s a rare opportunity to contribute to a historic moment in human space exploration.

Artemis II is only one step in a long-term plan.

Like the Apollo program before it, each Artemis mission builds on the last — using new data to refine models, improve materials and reduce risk.

“A lot of this is about confidence,” Poovathingal said. “You fly, you learn, you fix what needs fixing and then, you take the next step.”

As Artemis moves forward, the contribution will continue — carrying Kentucky research from the lab to the edge of space and helping bring astronauts safely home.

“When there’s a problem, and NASA turns to you for answers, that’s meaningful,” Renfro said. “It shows the value of the work being done here.”

“You don’t have to be at MIT or on the coasts to contribute to something like this,” Martin added. “You can be from Kentucky — even from Appalachia — and play a significant role in human space exploration.”

Learn more about UK’s aerospace programs and their role in advancing space exploration at engr.uky.edu/undergraduate/aerospace-engineering. 

“Behind the Blue” is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity. “Behind the Blue” is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

Discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing the Commonwealth.

This research was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) award numbers 80NSSC22M0034 and 80NSSC22M0174, awarded to the University of Kentucky.

The material is based upon work supported by NASA under award Nos. 80NSSC21K0286, 80NSSC21K1117 and 80NSSC20M0047. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.


NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, hugs the Orion spacecraft aboard the USS John P. Murtha, following the spacecraft’s April 11 splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. Photo Courtesy of NASA/Bill Ingalls.