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By NASA
5 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
The Orion Environmental Test Article photographed inside the Thermal Vacuum Chamber on April 11, 2024, in the Space Environments Complex at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. Credit: NASA/Quentin Schwinn Making the voyage 1.4 million miles around the Moon and back — the farthest a spacecraft built for humans has ever gone — the Orion spacecraft has faced a battery of tests over the years. Though Orion successfully proved its capabilities in the harsh environment of space during the Artemis I mission, Orion’s evaluation did not end at splashdown.
The crew module, now known as the Orion Environmental Test Article (ETA), returned to NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, in January 2024 and completed an 11-month test campaign necessary for the safety and success of Artemis II, the first crewed mission under NASA’s Artemis campaign.
Engineers and technicians from NASA and Lockheed Martin subjected the test article to the extreme conditions Orion may experience in a launch abort scenario. In the event of an emergency, Orion — and astronauts inside — will jettison away from the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for a safe landing in the ocean.
Experts at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, conducted a lightning test, which simulates the electromagnetic effects of a lightning strike to the vehicle on the launch pad awaiting liftoff. The Feb. 20, 2024 test proved the grounding path of the vehicle is operating as designed and protecting the vehicle from damage to any of its equipment or systems. Credit: NASA/Quentin Schwinn Experts installed NASA’s Launch Abort System, designed to carry the crew to safety in the event of an emergency during launch or ascent. The Orion test article was subjected to acoustic levels simulating both a nominal ascent and a launch abort scenario. The acoustic test chamber at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, blasted the test article at a volume of almost 164 decibels on Sept. 9, 2024. Credit: NASA/Jordan Salkin On Nov. 11, 2024, experts successfully at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility completed the docking mechanism jettison test, designed to connect and disconnect the Orion spacecraft to Gateway, a small space station that will orbit the Moon. They also completed the forward bay cover jettison test on Nov. 23, 2024, which is the last piece that must eject right before parachutes deploy, and successfully tested Orion’s uprighting system. Credit: NASA/Jordan Salkin “This event would be the maximum stress and highest load that any of the systems would see,” said Robert Overy, Orion ETA project manager, NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. “We’re taking a proven vehicle from a successful flight and pushing it to its limits. The safety of the astronaut crew depends on this test campaign.”
Experts conducted tests that simulated the noise levels of an abort during launch in addition to the electromagnetic effects of lightning strikes. The test campaign also jettisoned the test article’s docking module and parachute covers, as well as the crew module uprighting system, which consists of five airbags on top of the spacecraft that inflate upon splashdown.
“It’s been a successful test campaign,” Overy said. “The data has matched the prediction models, and everything operated as expected after being subjected to nominal and launch abort acoustic levels. We are still analyzing data, but the preliminary results show the vehicle and facility operated as desired.”
On. Nov. 23, 2024, after subjecting the Orion test article to launch abort-level acoustics, experts tested the functionality of the forward bay cover, which is the last piece that must eject before parachutes deploy. Credit: NASA/Jordan Salkin and Quentin Schwinn Testing Orion at such high acoustic levels was a major milestone for Artemis. The Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility, the world’s most powerful spacecraft acoustic test chamber, was built in 2011 in anticipation of this specific test campaign.
“These tests are absolutely critical because we have to complete all of these tests to say the spacecraft design is safe and we’re ready to fly a crew for the first time on Artemis II,” said Michael See, ETA vehicle manager, Orion Program. “This is the first time we’ve been able to test a spacecraft on the ground in such an extreme abort-level acoustic environment.”
The Orion Environmental Test Article with Launch Abort System installed moves to the Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility, the most powerful spacecraft acoustic test chamber in the world, on Sept. 9, 2024, at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. Credit: NASA/Jordan Salkin and Quentin Schwinn Part of NASA Glenn, Armstrong Test Facility is home to the world’s largest and most powerful space environment simulation chambers capable of testing full-sized spacecraft for all the extreme conditions of launch and spaceflight. The facility not only houses an acoustic test chamber, but also a thermal-vacuum chamber and spacecraft vibration system.
“The facility is unique because there’s no other place in the world capable of testing spacecraft like this,” Overy said. “Armstrong Test Facility is a one-stop-shop for all your testing needs to prepare your spacecraft for the severe and challenging journey to and from space.”
Orion’s Round-Trip Journey to Ohio
This is not the first time Orion has been inside the walls of the Space Environments Complex at Armstrong Test Facility. The spacecraft underwent mission-critical testing in 2019, where it was subjected to extreme temperatures and an electromagnetic environment before it launched on Artemis I in 2022.
“I remember when it first arrived, the gravity of its importance really hit home,” said Joshua Pawlak, test manager, NASA Glenn. “I thought to myself, on future Artemis missions, astronauts will be inside Orion heading to the Moon, and they’ll be depending on it for survival.”
Pawlak was a mechanical test engineer when Orion made its first trip to the Sandusky facility. He participated in planning and coordinating testing of the vehicle and trained personnel. He managed the vehicle from the moment it arrived, through testing, and up until it departed for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Joshua Pawlak poses in front of the Artemis I Space Launch System rocket on Nov. 16, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Credit: Joshua Pawlak “When it returned, I felt like I had a small part in this really big and exciting thing,” Pawlak said. “Seeing it come back blackened and scarred from the harsh environment of space was incredible. Space is not a friendly space, and I felt proud knowing that if there were astronauts on that vehicle, they would have survived.
After the Orion test article departs from Glenn, it will head to Kennedy for additional testing.
“When Artemis II launches and those astronauts are sitting on board, I’ll know that I did everything I could to ensure the vehicle is ready for them and going to perform as expected,” Pawlak said. “That’s why I do what I do.”
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By NASA
4 Min Read Celebrating 20 Years: Night Sky Network
2023 Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing at Camino Real Marketplace with the View the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit. Credits:
Photo by Chuck McPartlin by Vivan White & Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
NASA’s Night Sky Network is one of the most successful and longstanding grassroots initiatives for public engagement in astronomy education. Started in 2004 with the PlanetQuest program out of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and currently supported by NASA’s Science Activation, the Night Sky Network (NSN) plays a critical role in fostering science literacy through astronomy. By connecting NASA science and missions to support amateur astronomy clubs, NSN leverages the expertise and enthusiasm of club members, who bring this knowledge to schools, museums, observatories, and other organizations, bridging the gap between NASA science and the public. Now in its 20th year, NSN supports over 400 astronomy clubs dedicated to bringing the wonder of the night sky to their communities across the US, connecting with 7.4 million people across the United States and its territories since its inception.
International Observe the Moon Night, September 2024 Credit: Oklahoma City Astronomy Club Humble Beginnings
It all started with an idea – astronomy clubs already do great outreach, and club members know a lot of astronomy (shown definitively by founder Marni Berendsen’s research), and they love to talk with the public – how could NASA support these astronomy clubs in sharing current research and ideas using informal activities designed for use in the places that amateur astronomers do outreach. Thanks to funding through NASA JPL’s PlanetQuest public engagement program, the Night Sky Network was born in 2004, with more than 100 clubs joining the first year.
Raynham Public Observing Night, February 2004 Credit: Astronomical Society of Southern New England/Mark Gibson As quoted from the first NSN news article, “NASA is very excited to be working closely with the amateur astronomy community,” said Michael Greene, current Director for Communications and Education and former head of public engagement for JPL’s Navigator Program and PlanetQuest initiatives, “Amateurs want more people to look at the sky and understand astronomy, and so do we. Connecting what we do with our missions to the sense of wonder that comes when you look up at the stars and the planets is one of our long-term objectives. We have a strong commitment to inspiring the next generation of explorers. Lending support to the energy that the amateur astronomy community brings to students and the public will allow NASA to reach many more people.”
Taking off like a rocket, Night Sky Network had over 100 clubs registered on their website within the first year.
The Toolkits
Outreach Toolkits were developed to assist clubs with their endeavors. These kits included educational materials, hands-on activities, and guides to explaining topics in an accessible way. So far, 13 toolkits have been created with topics ranging from the scale of the universe to how telescopes work. To qualify for these free Toolkits, clubs must be active in their communities, hosting two outreach events every three months or five outreach events within a calendar year. Supplemental toolkits were also created based on special events, such as the solar eclipses and the 50th anniversary of Apollo’s Moon landing. A new toolkit is in development to teach audiences about solar science, and NSN is on track to support clubs well into the future.
Rye Science Day, October 2014 Credit: Southern Colorado Astronomical Society/Malissa Pacheco NSN also hosts archived video trainings on these toolkits and other topics via its YouTube channel and a monthly webinar series with scientists from various institutions worldwide. Lastly, a monthly segment called Night Sky Notes is produced for clubs to share with their audiences via newsletters and mailing lists.
Sharing the Universe
In 2007, a National Science Foundation grant provided funding for further research into astronomy club needs. From that came three resources for clubs – the Growing Your Astronomy Club and Getting Started with Outreach video series, as well as an updated website with a national calendar and club and event coordination. Now you can find hundreds of events each month across the country, including virtual events that you can join from anywhere.
Night Sky Network: Current and Future
Map of Night Sky Network clubs within the United States, as of November 2024 Credit: Night Sky Network/Google Maps View the full article
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By NASA
El 28 de junio de 2024, la nave espacial Orion de Artemis II es retirada de la Celda de Ensamblaje Final y Pruebas del Sistema (FAST, por sus siglas en inglés) y colocada en la cámara de altitud oeste dentro del Edificio de Operaciones y Revisión del Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA en Florida. Dentro de la cámara de altitud, la nave espacial se sometió a una serie de pruebas que simulaban las condiciones de vacío del espacio profundo.Crédito de la foto: NASA / Rad Sinyak Read this story in English here.
Tras extensos análisis y pruebas, la NASA ha identificado la causa técnica de la pérdida imprevista de material carbonizado en el escudo térmico de la nave espacial Orion de Artemis I.
Los ingenieros determinaron que, cuando Orion regresaba de su misión sin tripulación alrededor de la Luna, los gases generados dentro del material ablativo exterior del escudo térmico, denominado Avcoat, no pudieron ventilarse y disiparse como estaba previsto. Esto permitió que se acumulara presión y se produjeran grietas, lo que causó que parte del material carbonizado se desprendiera en varios lugares.
“Nuestros primeros vuelos de Artemis son una campaña de prueba, y el vuelo de prueba de Artemis I nos dio la oportunidad de comprobar nuestros sistemas en el entorno del espacio profundo antes de incorporar a la tripulación en futuras misiones”, dijo Amit Kshatriya, administrador asociado adjunto de la Oficina del programa De la Luna a Marte, en la sede de la NASA en Washington. “La investigación sobre el escudo térmico ayudó a garantizar que comprendiéramos completamente la causa y la naturaleza del problema, así como el riesgo que les pedimos a nuestras tripulaciones que asuman cuando emprendan su viaje a la Luna”.
Los hallazgos
Los equipos técnicos adoptaron un enfoque metódico para comprender e identificar el origen del problema de pérdida de material carbonizado, incluyendo el muestreo detallado del escudo térmico de Artemis I, la revisión de las imágenes y los datos de los sensores de la nave espacial, y pruebas y análisis exhaustivos en tierra.
Durante Artemis I, los ingenieros utilizaron la técnica de guiamiento de reentrada atmosférica doble para el regreso de Orion a la Tierra. Esta técnica ofrece más flexibilidad ya que amplía el alcance del vuelo de Orion después del punto de reentrada para llevarlo hasta un lugar de amerizaje en el océano Pacífico. Con esta maniobra, Orion se sumergió en la parte superior de la atmósfera de la Tierra y utilizó la resistencia atmosférica para reducir su velocidad. A continuación, Orion utilizó la sustentación aerodinámica de la cápsula para rebotar y salir de nuevo de la atmósfera, para luego volver a entrar en el descenso final con paracaídas para su amerizaje.
Utilizando los datos de la respuesta del material Avcoat de Artemis I, el equipo de investigación pudo simular el entorno de la trayectoria de entrada de Artemis I —una parte clave para comprender la causa del problema— dentro de la instalación de chorro en arco del Centro de Investigación Ames de la NASA en California. Observaron que, durante el período entre las inmersiones en la atmósfera, las tasas de calentamiento disminuyeron y la energía térmica se acumuló dentro del material Avcoat del escudo térmico. Esto condujo a la acumulación de gases que forman parte del proceso de ablación (desgaste) previsto. Debido a que el Avcoat no tenía “permeabilidad”, la presión interna se acumuló y produjo el agrietamiento y el desprendimiento desigual de la capa exterior.
Los equipos técnicos realizaron extensas pruebas en tierra para simular el fenómeno de rebote en la reentrada antes de la misión Artemis I. Sin embargo, hicieron pruebas a velocidades de calentamiento mucho más altas que las que la nave espacial experimentó durante su vuelo. Las altas velocidades de calentamiento puestas a prueba en tierra permitieron que el material carbonizado permeable se formara y se desgastara como estaba previsto, liberando la presión del gas. El calentamiento menos severo observado durante la reentrada real de Artemis I desaceleró el proceso de formación de material carbonizado, al tiempo que siguió creando gases en esta capa de material. La presión del gas se acumuló hasta el punto de agrietar el Avcoat y liberar partes de la capa carbonizada. Las mejoras recientes en la instalación de chorro en arco han permitido una reproducción más precisa de los entornos de vuelo registrados por Artemis I, de modo que este comportamiento de agrietamiento pudo demostrarse en pruebas en tierra.
Si bien Artemis I no estaba tripulado, los datos del vuelo mostraron que, si la tripulación hubiera estado a bordo, habría estado a salvo. Los datos de la temperatura de los sistemas del módulo de tripulación dentro de la cabina también estaban dentro de los límites y se mantenían estables, con temperaturas alrededor de los 24 grados centígrados (75 grados Fahrenheit). El desempeño del escudo térmico superó las expectativas.
Los ingenieros comprenden tanto el fenómeno material como el entorno con el que interactúan los materiales durante la entrada a la atmósfera. Al cambiar el material o el entorno, pueden predecir cómo responderá la nave espacial. Los equipos de la NASA acordaron por unanimidad que la agencia puede desarrollar un análisis de vuelo aceptable que mantenga a la tripulación segura utilizando el actual escudo térmico de Artemis II con cambios operativos para su entrada en la atmósfera.
El proceso de investigación de la NASA
Poco después de que los ingenieros de la NASA descubrieran las condiciones del escudo térmico de Artemis I, la agencia comenzó un extenso proceso de investigación, el cual contó con un equipo multidisciplinario de expertos en sistemas de protección térmica, aerotermodinámica, pruebas y análisis térmicos, análisis de estrés (fatiga de materiales), pruebas y análisis de materiales, y muchos otros campos técnicos relacionados. El Centro de Ingeniería y Seguridad de la NASA también participó para aportar su experiencia técnica, incluyendo evaluación no destructiva, análisis térmico y estructural, análisis de árbol de fallas y otros métodos de respaldo de las pruebas.
“Nos tomamos muy en serio nuestro proceso de investigación del escudo térmico, con la seguridad de la tripulación como la fuerza impulsora que mueve esta investigación”, dijo Howard Hu, gerente del Programa Orion del Centro Espacial Johnson de la NASA en Houston. “El proceso fue extenso. Le dimos al equipo el tiempo necesario para investigar todas las causas posibles, y trabajaron incansablemente para asegurarse de que entendiéramos el fenómeno y los pasos necesarios para mitigar este problema en futuras misiones”.
El escudo térmico de Artemis I estaba muy cargado de instrumentos para este vuelo, e incluía sensores de presión, extensómetros y termopares a diferentes profundidades del material ablativo. Los datos de estos instrumentos acrecentaron el análisis de muestras físicas, lo que permitió al equipo validar modelos informáticos, crear reconstrucciones de entornos, proporcionar perfiles de temperatura interna y dar información sobre el momento de la pérdida de material carbonizado.
Alrededor de 200 muestras de Avcoat fueron extraídas del escudo térmico de Artemis I en el Centro de Vuelo Espacial Marshall de la NASA en Alabama para su análisis e inspección. El equipo llevó a cabo una evaluación no destructiva para “ver” dentro del escudo térmico.
Uno de los hallazgos más importantes que arrojó el examen de estas muestras fue que algunas superficies en la zona del Avcoat permeable, las cuales habían sido identificadas antes del vuelo, no sufrieron agrietamiento ni pérdida de material carbonizado. Dado que estas superficies eran permeables al comienzo de la entrada en la atmósfera, los gases producidos por la ablación pudieron ventilarse adecuadamente, eliminando la acumulación de la presión, el agrietamiento y la pérdida de material carbonizado.
Los ingenieros hicieron ocho campañas separadas de pruebas térmicas posteriores al vuelo para respaldar el análisis del origen de estas condiciones, y completaron 121 pruebas individuales. Estas pruebas fueron llevadas a cabo en instalaciones en diferentes lugares de Estados Unidos que cuentan con capacidades únicas, entre ellas: la Instalación de Calentamiento Aerodinámico en el Complejo de Chorro en Arco del centro Ames, para poner a prueba perfiles de calentamiento convectivo con diversos gases de prueba; el Laboratorio de Evaluación de Materiales Endurecidos por Láser en la Base de la Fuerza Aérea Patterson-Wright en Ohio, con el fin de poner a prueba perfiles de calentamiento radiativo y proporcionar radiografías en tiempo real; y la Instalación de Calentamiento por Interacción del centro Ames, para poner a prueba perfiles combinados de calentamiento convectivo y radiativo en el aire en bloques completos, esto es, aplicando todas las pruebas en cada bloque de material.
Los expertos en aerotermia también completaron dos campañas de pruebas en el túnel de viento hipersónico del Centro de Investigación Langley de la NASA en Virginia y en las instalaciones de pruebas aerodinámicas del CUBRC en Buffalo, Nueva York, para realizar pruebas con una diversidad de configuraciones de pérdida de material carbonizado, y mejorar y validar los modelos analíticos. También se realizaron pruebas de permeabilidad en el centro Kratos en Alabama, en la Universidad de Kentucky y en el centro Ames para caracterizar aún mejor el volumen elemental y la porosidad del Avcoat. La instalación de pruebas del centro de investigaciones Advanced Light Source, una instalación para usuarios científicos del Departamento de Energía de Estados Unidos en el Laboratorio Nacional Lawrence Berkeley, también fue utilizada por los ingenieros para examinar el comportamiento del calentamiento del Avcoat a nivel microestructural.
En la primavera de 2024, la NASA creó un equipo de revisión independiente que realizó una revisión exhaustiva del proceso de investigación, los hallazgos y los resultados de la agencia. La revisión independiente fue dirigida por Paul Hill, un exdirectivo de la NASA que se desempeñó como director principal de vuelo del transbordador espacial para el programa Return to Flight (Regreso a los vuelos) después del accidente del Columbia, quien también dirigió la Dirección de Operaciones de Misiones de la NASA y es miembro actual del Panel Asesor de Seguridad Aeroespacial de la agencia. La revisión se llevó a cabo durante un período de tres meses a fin de evaluar las condiciones del escudo térmico posteriores al vuelo, los datos del entorno para la entrada a la atmósfera, la respuesta térmica del material ablativo y el avance de las investigaciones de la NASA. El equipo de revisión estuvo de acuerdo con los hallazgos de la NASA sobre la causa técnica del comportamiento físico del escudo térmico.
Avances en el escudo térmico
Al saber que la permeabilidad de Avcoat es un parámetro clave para evitar o minimizar la pérdida de material carbonizado, la NASA tiene la información correcta para garantizar la seguridad de la tripulación y mejorar el desempeño de los futuros escudos térmicos del programa Artemis. A lo largo de su historia, la NASA ha aprendido de cada uno de sus vuelos e incorporado mejoras en el hardware y las operaciones. Los datos recopilados a lo largo del vuelo de prueba de Artemis I han proporcionado a los ingenieros información valiosísima para guiar futuros diseños y refinamientos. Los datos de desempeño del vuelo de retorno lunar y un sólido programa de calificación de pruebas en tierra, mejorado después de la experiencia del vuelo de Artemis I, están respaldando las mejoras en la producción del escudo térmico de Orion. Los futuros escudos térmicos para el regreso de Orion en las misiones de alunizaje de Artemis están en producción para lograr una uniformidad y permeabilidad consistente. El programa de calificación se está completando actualmente, junto con la producción de bloques de Avcoat más permeables, en la Instalación de Ensamblaje Michoud de la NASA en Nueva Orleans.
Para obtener más información sobre las campañas Artemis de la NASA, visita el sitio web (en inglés):
https://www.nasa.gov/artemis
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Meira Bernstein / Rachel Kraft / María José Viñas
Sede, Washington
202-358-1600
meira.b.bernstein@nasa.gov / rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov / maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov
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By NASA
A new American human-rated spacecraft made its first foray into space on Dec. 5, 2014. Under contract to NASA, Lockheed Martin builds Orion as the vehicle to take American astronauts back to the Moon and eventually beyond. Orion’s overall shape harkens back to the Apollo Command and Service Modules, but using today’s technology is a larger and far more capable vehicle for NASA’s Artemis Program.
Orion’s first mission, called Engineering Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), used a Delta-IV Heavy booster, at the time the most powerful operational rocket. The 4.5-hour mission demonstrated Orion’s space-worthiness, tested the spacecraft’s heat shield during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, and proved the capsule’s recovery systems. Although the EFT-1 mission didn’t include a crew, the Orion capsule flew higher and faster than any human-rated spacecraft in more than 40 years.
The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket with NASA’s Orion spacecraft mounted atop, lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 37B in Florida.NASA/Bill Ingalls At 7:05 a.m. EST on Dec. 5, 2014, the three-core first stage of the Delta-IV Heavy rocket ignited, lifting the Orion spacecraft off from Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force, now Space Force, Station (CCAFS) in Florida to begin the EFT-1 mission. Three minutes and fifty-eight seconds after liftoff, the two side boosters separated as the center core continued firing for another 93 seconds. The second stage ignited thirteen seconds after separation to begin the first of three planned burns. During the first burn, the Service Module’s protective fairing separated, followed by the Launch Abort System. Lasting about 11 and a half minutes, this first burn of the second stage placed the spacecraft into a preliminary 115-by-552-mile parking orbit. While completing one revolution around the Earth, controllers in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, led by Flight Director Michael L. Sarafin, verified the functioning of the spacecraft’s systems. The second stage ignited a second time, firing for 4 minutes and 42 seconds to raise Orion’s apogee or high point above the Earth to 3,600 miles. During the coast to apogee, Orion remained attached to the second stage and completed its first crossing through the inner Van Allen radiation belt.
Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas during the EFT-1 mission.NASA/Mark Sowa Three hours and five minutes after launch, Orion reached its apogee and began its descent back toward Earth, separating from the second stage about 18 minutes later. The second stage conducted a one-minute disposal burn to ensure it didn’t interfere with the spacecraft’s trajectory. During the passage back through the Van Allen belt, Orion fired its thrusters for 10 seconds to adjust its course for reentry. At an altitude of 400,000 feet, the spacecraft encountered the first tendrils of the Earth’s atmosphere at a point called Entry Interface, traveling at 20,000 miles per hour (mph). A buildup of ionized gases caused by the reentry heating resulted in a communications blackout with Orion for about two and a half minutes. The spacecraft experienced maximum heating of about 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit, proving the worthiness of the heat shield. After release of Orion’s forward bay cover, two drogue parachutes deployed to slow and stabilize the spacecraft. Next followed deployment of the three main parachutes that slowed the spacecraft to 20 mph. Splashdown occurred 4 hours and 24 minutes after launch about 600 miles southwest of San Diego, California. A video of the Orion EFT-1 mission can be viewed here.
Crew module splashing down during EFT-1 in the Pacific ocean.NASA Standing by to recover the Orion capsule, U.S. Navy Divers assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 and Fleet Combat Camera Pacific and crew members from amphibious transport dock U.S.S. Anchorage (LPD-23) stepped into action, first placing a flotation collar around the spacecraft. After securing a tow line to the capsule, the sailors towed it aboard the amphibious well deck of Anchorage, which set sail for Naval Base San Diego arriving there on Dec 8. Engineers from NASA and Lockheed Martin conducted a preliminary inspection of the spacecraft during the cruise to San Diego and found that it survived its trip into space in excellent condition.
U.S. Navy divers approach the Orion capsule during recovery operations. U.S. Navy The Orion EFT-1 mission met all its objectives and received many accolades. “Today was a great day for America,” said Flight Director Sarafin from his console at Mission Control. “It is hard to have a better day than today,” said Mark S. Geyer, Orion program manager. “We’re already working on the next capsule,” said W. Michael “Mike” Hawes, Lockheed Martin’s Orion program manager, adding, “We’ll learn a tremendous amount from what we did today.” NASA Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations William H. Gerstenmaier praised all personnel involved with the EFT-1 mission, “What a tremendous team effort.” NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden summarized his thoughts about the mission, “Today’s flight test of Orion is a huge step for NASA and a really critical part of our work to pioneer deep space.”
Former NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden inspects Orion EFT-1 capsule at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.NASA After its arrival at Naval Base San Diego, workers placed the Orion capsule aboard a truck that delivered it to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on Dec. 18. After engineers conducted a thorough inspection of the spacecraft at KSC, workers trucked it to the Lockheed Martin facility in Littleton, Colorado, where it arrived on Sept. 1, 2015. Engineers completed final inspections and decontamination of the vehicle. The KSC Visitor Complex has the capsule on display.
The Orion capsule during the Artemis I mission, with the Moon and Earth in the background. NASA The next time an Orion spacecraft flew in space during the Artemis I mission, the Space Launch System (SLS) carried it into orbit after launch from KSC’s Launch Complex 39B. The thunderous night launch took place on Nov. 16, 2022. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I provided a foundation for human deep space exploration and demonstrated our commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond. The uncrewed Orion spacecraft spent 25.5 days in space, including 6 days in a retrograde orbit around the Moon, concluding with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 11, exactly 50 years after the Apollo 17 Moon landing.
The Artemis II crew poses in front of the Orion capsule at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.NASA/Kim Shiflett On April 3, 2023, NASA named the four-person crew for the Artemis II mission, the first flight to take humans beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in December 1972. The crew includes NASA astronauts G. Reid Wiseman as commander, Victor J. Glover as pilot, and Christina H. Koch as a mission specialist as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy R. Hansen as the other mission specialist. The four will take an Orion spacecraft on a 10-day journey around the Moon to human rate the spacecraft and SLS.
Interested in learning more about the Artemis Program? Go to https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/
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