The Artemis I mission - a 25½-day uncrewed test flight around the moon meant to pave the way for future astronaut missions - came to an momentous end as NASA's Orion spacecraft made a successful ocean splashdown Sunday.
As the capsule reached around 200,000 feet above the Earth's surface, it performed a roll maneuver that briefly sent the capsule back upward - sort of like skipping a rock across the surface of a lake."Skip entry gives us a consistent landing site that supports astronaut safety because it allows teams on the ground to better and faster coordinate recovery efforts," said Joe Bomba, Lockheed Martin's Orion aerosciences aerothermal lead, in a statement.
While there were no astronauts on this test mission - just a few mannequins equipped to gather data and a Snoopy doll - Nelson, the NASA chief, has stressed the importance of demonstrating that the capsule can make a safe return. A secondary goal of this mission was for Orion's service module, a cylindrical attachment at the bottom of the spacecraft, to deploy 10 small satellites. But at least four of those satellites failed after being jettisoned into orbit, including a miniature lunar lander developed in Japan and one of NASA's own payload that was intended to be one of the first tiny satellites to explore interplanetary space.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA Artemis I – Flight Day 24: Orion Spacecraft Heads HomeOn Flight Day 24 of the Artemis I mission, NASA teams in Mission Control Houston conducted spacecraft system checks ahead of Orion’s planned splashdown on December 11. Meanwhile, the Exploration Ground Systems recovery team made its way toward the landing area off Mexico's Baja Coast near Guadalupe
Read more »
Relive the Artemis 1 launch as the Orion spacecraft prepares to return (photos)Tensions were high in the hours leading up to last month's Artemis 1 launch.
Read more »
NASA's Orion capsule heads for splashdown after Artemis I flight around moonNASA's uncrewed Orion capsule hurtled through space on Sunday on the final return leg of its voyage around the moon and back, winding up the inaugural mission of the Artemis lunar program 50 years to the day after Apollo's final moon landing.
Read more »
NASA Artemis I – Flight Day 25: Orion Spacecraft in Home Stretch of JourneyAs the end of NASA’s Artemis I mission draws near, the Orion spacecraft is on its last full day in space. Splashdown is targeted for 11:39 a.m. CST (12:39 p.m. EST) on Sunday, December 11, off the Baja Coast near Guadalupe Island. Engineers conducted the final Artemis I in-space developmental fli
Read more »
Artemis I Orion capsule set for splashdown after NASA mission near moonThe Artemis I Orion capsule is set to splash down on Sunday after a 25-day trip that reached within 60 miles of the moon, completing the first step in an ambitious plan to establish a long-term presence there and later send a crewed shuttle to Mars.
Read more »
Watch NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft return to Earth on SundayOrion is scheduled to splash down off the coast of Baja California around 12:40 p.m. EST on Sunday (Dec. 11).
Read more »