After a 26-day mission that took it on a historic journey around the moon, NASA’s next-generation Orion capsule has returned to Earth.
The uncrewed spacecraft had a"picture perfect splashdown" Sunday in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego at 12:40 p.m. E.T., according to officials. The capsule’s return marked the end of— the crucial first launch and expedition of the agency’s new megarocket and space capsule for missions to the moon.
beamed back stunning photos and videos of the lunar surface, along with dramatic “selfies” showing the spacecraft and the moon with Earth visible in the background., including those where the Apollo 12 and Apollo 14 astronauts touched down. Artemis I was designed to test the Orion capsule and the huge Space Launch System rocket that carries it into orbit. The 322-foot-tall booster is more powerful than the retired Saturn V rockets that NASA used to send astronauts to the moon more than 50 years ago during its iconic Apollo program.
This time, a set of mannequins equipped with various sensors rode in the Orion capsule to gather data about radiation exposure and other conditions of deep space travel.The Artemis I flight also provided NASA with an important opportunity to test Orion’s heat shield, which is designed to protect the spacecraft and its passengers from scorching conditions as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere.
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