NASA's Orion Spacecraft Brings 4 Astronauts Home After Historic Moon Voyage
NASA's Orion spacecraft safely returned 4 astronauts to Earth after a daring mission around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years.
NASA's Orion spacecraft made a dramatic return to Earth on Friday, safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean and bringing home four brave astronauts after their historic voyage around the Moon. The capsule, named Integrity, blazed through the atmosphere at over 30 times the speed of sound, enduring temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.
Orion commander Reid Wiseman and his three crewmates experienced a brief blackout in communications with Mission Control in Houston before the spacecraft's parachutes deployed, slowing its descent for a gentle splashdown southwest of San Diego. Airborne tracking planes beamed live video of Orion's return, showcasing the dramatic final moments as the massive 10,500-square-foot main parachutes guided the capsule to the ocean surface.
Source: Ars Technica
