artemis 1

NASA’s Orion spacecraft reached its maximum distance from Earth on November 28.Image: NASAAfter traveling more than 1.4 million miles (2.2 million kilometers) on an historic journey to the Moon and back, NASA’s Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday following its near-perfect test flight. This week, NASA released a 24-minute video highlighting some of the most exciting moments from the 25.5 day mission from the moment the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket launched until the Orion spacecraft parachuted…

A view of NASA’s Orion spacecraft shortly after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, December 11, 2022. Photo: NASAA fully intact and toasty-hot Orion spacecraft came home on Sunday from its trip around the Moon, splashing down off the coast of Baja, California. The historic mission ended as it began, with a fiery trip through Earth’s atmosphere, and with NASA pulling off one daring accomplishment after another. Similar to the other phases of this impressive 25.5-day mission, the uncrewed capsule’s reentry,…

The Orion capsule was uncrewed, but filled with several mementos. Image: NASAFollowing its trip to the Moon and back, NASA’s Orion spacecraft splashed down into the Pacific Ocean on Sunday. The inaugural flight for the Artemis program may have been uncrewed, but Orion carried five souvenirs to honor a legacy of lunar exploration. NASA has a longstanding tradition of stashing hidden messages and mementos on board its spacecraft. In 1977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 launched to interstellar space carrying a 12-inch gold-plated…

NASA's Orion capsule made a blisteringly fast return from the Moon Sunday, parachuting into the Pacific off Mexico to conclude a test flight that should clear the way for astronauts on the next lunar flyby.The incoming capsule hit the atmosphere at Mach 32, or 32 times the speed of sound, and endured reentry temperatures of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius) before splashing down west of Baja California near Guadalupe Island. A Navy ship quickly moved in to recover the spacecraft and its silent occupants —…

NASA's next-generation astronaut spacecraft returned to Earth after more than a quarter-century of orbiting the Moon. The Orion space spacecraft made a blazing re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on Monday (IST), and then splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. In subsequent stages, though, parachutes were used to delay the fall. Three huge red and orange parachutes assisted the unmanned capsule as it descended to the water. As seen on NASA TV, the unmanned capsule sped through Earth's atmosphere at a rate of 25,000…

NASA’s Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft prepares for splashdown to Earth on Dec 11: When and where to watchNASA specialists are getting ready for the Orion spacecraft's splashdown as it continues to return to Earth as part of the Artemis 1 mission. On Sunday, December 11, at 12.40 PM ET (11.10 PM IST), Orion will make a splashdown on Guadalupe island, Mexico in the Pacific.    The space body will also be offering live streaming of the same. The live feed will start on December 11 at 11:10 IST. Through NASA TV, YouTube, and…

Orion’s triumphant return. Gif: NASA/GizmodoThe uncrewed Orion spacecraft performed a flawless splashdown in the Pacific Ocean earlier today, in what is a very promising and exciting start to the Artemis era of lunar missions.A recovery team led by NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems is in the midst of recovering the capsule, a careful process that can take upwards of five hours to complete. Orion splashed down at 12:40 p.m. ET as expected, roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Guadalupe Island near Baja, California.…

NASA Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft to splash down on Earth TODAY: Know how to watch liveThe Orion spacecraft of the Artemis 1 project is currently spending its final day in orbit, and NASA teams aim to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near Guadalupe Island at 12:39 EST (11.09 PM IST)   On November 16, the NASA Orion capsule was safely launched by the Artemis 1 mission into outer space. Now, nearly a month later, it is time for the spacecraft to return to Earth.    Artemis I: Or, To the Moon and Back Again. Live…

Orion gazes back at the Moon, on December 7, 2022.Photo: NASAAll good things come to an end, including NASA’s wildly successful Artemis 1 mission to the Moon and back. At least, it’s been successful so far, as Orion must still perform a harrowing reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. You can follow the action live right here.NASA’s coverage of this event is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. (all times Eastern), with the live broadcast available on NASA TV, YouTube and at the live stream below. The coverage will…

The Artemis 1 recovery team during a practice exercise on December 2, 2022. Photo: NASAShould all go as planned, NASA’s Orion spacecraft will splash down off the coast of Baja, California, on Sunday, December 11 at 12:40 p.m. ET. As the uncrewed capsule bobs up and down in the open ocean, a crack team will spring into action and attempt to pull off a carefully choreographed recovery operation. Here’s how we expect it to unfold.The sight of Orion floating in the Pacific Ocean will most assuredly be a welcome sight this…