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NASAs Orion completes historic flight, ushers in new era

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NASA's new Orion spacecraft streaked into orbit Friday on a high-stakes test flight meant to usher in a new era of human exploration leading ultimately to Mars. (AP)

NASA entered a new era of space exploration when its Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean Friday morning after going further than any spacecraft built for humans had reached in more than 40 years.

The maiden test flight -- made without astronauts aboard -- is a step toward eventually getting astronauts to deep space: first to help snag an asteroid, and then, NASA hopes, to Mars. Orion lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., at 7:05 a.m., a day after gusty wind and problems with several valves forced officials to cancel the mission.

But on Friday, the 4.5-hour mission appeared to go off flawlessly. "There's your new spacecraft, America," said Mission Control commentator Rob Navias said shortly before Orion hit the water. It was a "picture perfect" flight, officials said.

As it sent back stunning images broadcast on NASAs website, Orion orbited the Earth twice, shot up to an altitude of about 3,600 miles above the Earth. That was farther than any spacecraft designed for humans had gone since the Apollo 17 moon mission in 1972.

It splashed into the Pacific Ocean at 11:29 a.m.

NASA's Orion spacecraft landed with a perfect splashdown Friday following an unmanned test mission that broke records for being the fastest and furthest space fight in a craft built for humans since the Apollo moon missions. (AP)

The successful test flight was cheered by ebullient officials from NASA and its partners in the mission: prime contractor Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin, which built Orion, and United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed and Boeing, which built the Delta IV Heavy rocket that launched Orion into orbit.

Moments after liftoff,Currie said it marked "the dawn of Orion and the new era of American space exploration."

Before the flight, NASA Administrator Charlie Boldencalled theLockheed Martin-manufactured Orion "our prima ballerina."

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NASAs Orion completes historic flight, ushers in new era

NASA's Orion lands with 'bullseye' splashdown

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AP Photo/NASA In this frame grab from NASA-TV, the Orion spacecraft descends before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, following a dramatic test flight that took it to a zenith height of 3,600 miles and ushered in a new era of human exploration aiming for Mars.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) NASA's new Orion spacecraft made a "bull's-eye" splashdown in the Pacific on Friday following a dramatic test flight that took it to a zenith of 3,604 miles and ushered in a new era of human exploration aiming for Mars.

The unmanned test flight ended 4 hours after it began and achieved at least one record: flying farther and faster than any capsule built for humans since the Apollo moon program.

"There's your new spacecraft, America," Mission Control commentator Rob Navias said as the Orion capsule neared the water 270 miles off Mexico's Baja peninsula.

Navias called the journey "the most perfect flight you could ever imagine."

Blast off! NASA launches Orion spacecraft on first Mars test flight

NASA is counting on future Orions to carry astronauts beyond Earth's orbit, to asteroids and ultimately the grand prize: Mars.

The agency reported some positive results, saying onboard computers were unaffected by high radiation in space.

The capsule reached a peak altitude more than 14 times farther from Earth than the International Space Station. No spacecraft designed for astronauts had gone so far since Apollo 17 NASA's final moon shot 42 years ago.

NASA needed to send Orion that high in order to set the crew module up for a 20,000-mph, 4,000-degree entry. That was considered the most critical part of the entire flight testing the largest of its kind heat shield for survival before humans climb aboard.

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NASA's Orion lands with 'bullseye' splashdown

NASA's Orion splashes down after critical test mission

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AP Photo/NASA In this frame grab from NASA-TV, the Orion spacecraft descends before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, following a dramatic test flight that took it to a zenith height of 3,600 miles and ushered in a new era of human exploration aiming for Mars.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) NASA's new Orion spacecraft made a "bull's-eye" splashdown in the Pacific on Friday following a dramatic test flight that took it to a zenith of 3,604 miles and ushered in a new era of human exploration aiming for Mars.

The unmanned test flight ended 4 hours after it began and achieved at least one record: flying farther and faster than any capsule built for humans since the Apollo moon program.

"There's your new spacecraft, America," Mission Control commentator Rob Navias said as the Orion capsule neared the water 270 miles off Mexico's Baja peninsula.

Navias called the journey "the most perfect flight you could ever imagine."

Blast off! NASA launches Orion spacecraft on first Mars test flight

NASA is counting on future Orions to carry astronauts beyond Earth's orbit, to asteroids and ultimately the grand prize: Mars.

The agency reported some positive results, saying onboard computers were unaffected by high radiation in space.

The capsule reached a peak altitude more than 14 times farther from Earth than the International Space Station. No spacecraft designed for astronauts had gone so far since Apollo 17 NASA's final moon shot 42 years ago.

NASA needed to send Orion that high in order to set the crew module up for a 20,000-mph, 4,000-degree entry. That was considered the most critical part of the entire flight testing the largest of its kind heat shield for survival before humans climb aboard.

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NASA's Orion splashes down after critical test mission

NASA launches new Orion spacecraft

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AP Photo/NASA In this frame grab from NASA-TV, the Orion spacecraft descends before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, following a dramatic test flight that took it to a zenith height of 3,600 miles and ushered in a new era of human exploration aiming for Mars.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) NASA's new Orion spacecraft made a "bull's-eye" splashdown in the Pacific on Friday following a dramatic test flight that took it to a zenith of 3,604 miles and ushered in a new era of human exploration aiming for Mars.

The unmanned test flight ended 4 hours after it began and achieved at least one record: flying farther and faster than any capsule built for humans since the Apollo moon program.

"There's your new spacecraft, America," Mission Control commentator Rob Navias said as the Orion capsule neared the water 270 miles off Mexico's Baja peninsula.

Navias called the journey "the most perfect flight you could ever imagine."

Blast off! NASA launches Orion spacecraft on first Mars test flight

NASA is counting on future Orions to carry astronauts beyond Earth's orbit, to asteroids and ultimately the grand prize: Mars.

The agency reported some positive results, saying onboard computers were unaffected by high radiation in space.

The capsule reached a peak altitude more than 14 times farther from Earth than the International Space Station. No spacecraft designed for astronauts had gone so far since Apollo 17 NASA's final moon shot 42 years ago.

NASA needed to send Orion that high in order to set the crew module up for a 20,000-mph, 4,000-degree entry. That was considered the most critical part of the entire flight testing the largest of its kind heat shield for survival before humans climb aboard.

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NASA launches new Orion spacecraft

NASA Announces First Human Mission to Mars, Orion’s First Test Launch Tomorrow – The Know – Video

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NASA Announces First Human Mission to Mars, Orion #39;s First Test Launch Tomorrow - The Know
NASA has announced plans for a manned mission to Mars, after they capture an asteroid and land astronauts on it for a bit of practice. News By: Ashley Jenkins Hosted By: Ashley Jenkins Music...

By: The Know

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NASA Announces First Human Mission to Mars, Orion's First Test Launch Tomorrow - The Know - Video


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