On its trip, the spacecraft captured stunning pictures of Earth and, during two close flybys, images of the lunar surface and a mesmerizing 'Earth rise.'
The Artemis I mission - a 25-day uncrewed test flight around the moon meant to pave the way for future astronaut missions - is coming to an end as NASA's Orion spacecraft is expected to make an ocean splashdown Sunday,The spacecraft is finishing the final stretch of its journey, closing in on the thick inner layer of Earth's atmosphere after traversing 239,000 miles between the moon and Earth. It's set to splash down at 12:40 p.m.
As the capsule reaches around 200,000 feet above the Earth's surface, it will perform a roll maneuver that will briefly send 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 aero sciences aerothermal lead, in a statement.
While there are 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 payloads that was intended to be one of the first tiny satellites to explore interplanetary space.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How to Watch NASA's Orion Spacecraft Arrive Back on Earth This WeekendNASA's historic Orion spacecraft will splash down into the ocean off the coast of California on Sunday. Here's how to watch!
Read more »
Orion prepares to return to Earth ahead of splashdown | Digital TrendsNASA's Orion spacecraft is on its way home from its orbit of the moon and is due to splash down in the Pacific Ocean tomorrow, Sunday, December 11.
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 »
Historic moon mission concludes with splashdown of Orion capsule | CNNThe Artemis I mission — a historic uncrewed test flight around the moon meant to pave the way for future astronaut missions — is coming to an end as NASA's Orion spacecraft is making an ocean splashdown on Sunday.
Read more »
Live updates: NASA’s Artemis I Orion spacecraft returns to EarthThe flight has gone exceedingly well, raising hopes for Artemis II, the first flight with crew.
Read more »
Artemis I: NASA's Orion spacecraft to complete historic moon mission with Pacific splashdown | Watch liveThe Artemis 1 test flight ends Sunday when Orion splashes down in the Pacific Ocean. NASA's spacecraft designed to carry humans back to the moon is in the final stages of a 25.5 moon-orbiting mission.
Read more »