NASA's Orion spacecraft returned to Kennedy Space Center in Florida Dec. 18, 2014. The spacecraft flew to an altitude of 3,604 miles in space during a Dec. 5 flight test designed to stress many of the riskiest events Orion will see when it sends astronauts on future missions to an asteroid and eventually on to Mars. (The Denver Post | NASA)

NASA's Orion spacecraft has arrived safely back at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Orion traveled more than 3,600 miles above Earth on Dec. 5 during the four-hour, 24-minute Experimental Test Flight-1, after which it splashed down about 630 miles southwest of San Diego.

Navy divers then recovered the capsule for transport back to San Diego aboard the USS Anchorage. Then Orion began the trip back across the country, hauled in a custom case mounted on the back of a semi.

The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., early Friday. On a "picture-perfect day," the Colorado-built spacecraft hurtled into space, orbited Earth twice and splashed down four hours later in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. (Brent Lewis, The Denver Post)

"Despite traveling a bit slower than what we're used to, Orion made pretty good time," said Michael Hawes, Lockheed Martin's Orion program manager. "Most of the team hasn't had eyes on the spacecraft since November, when we rolled to the launch pad, so we're excited to take a look."

Lockheed Martin Space Systems is Orion's prime contractor. The spacecraft and heat shield were designed and built at the company's Waterton Canyon campus.

The heat shield's performance is of prime concern for NASA and Lockheed Martin. Upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, Orion reached speeds of 20,000 mph and temperatures of 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat shield is designed to keep Orion's crew cabin a comfortable 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

When Orion was in port in San Diego, engineers took samples from the spacecraft's heat shield to evaluate its performance. These samples, along with other data, were taken to San Diego Lockheed Martin facilities for analysis.

At Kennedy Space Center, the Orion team will remove the spacecraft's back panels, analyze flight data and perform visual inspections of propulsion systems, fluid lines and more. There also will be work to remove hazardous substances from the spacecraft.

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NASA's Orion is back at Kennedy Space Center