NASA's Orion Capsule Splashes Down Today After Historic Moon Mission
NASAs Orion Capsule Splashes Down Today After Historic Moon Mission...
NASA's Orion spacecraft is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at 12:42 p.m. ET today, completing its 25.5-day Artemis I mission around the Moon. The uncrewed capsule will land approximately 50 miles off the coast of San Diego, where recovery teams from NASA and the U.S. Navy are standing by.
This event marks a critical milestone for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2025. The successful splashdown would demonstrate Orion's ability to safely reenter Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 mph and withstand temperatures nearing 5,000°F.
Public interest has surged as NASA prepares to livestream the final descent and recovery operations. The mission represents America's first deep space capsule return since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson called it "a defining moment for a new generation of space exploration."
Tracking data shows Orion performing its final trajectory correction burn early this morning. The spacecraft will jettison its service module before atmospheric entry, then deploy parachutes to slow its descent. Three main parachutes must inflate perfectly for a safe splashdown.
Recovery teams aboard the USS Portland will secure Orion within two hours of landing. Engineers need to document the capsule's condition before transporting it to Kennedy Space Center for detailed analysis. Critical data from onboard sensors will inform preparations for Artemis II's crewed flight.
The splashdown timing coincides with peak daylight in California to aid recovery operations. NASA TV coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET, featuring commentary from mission control and live views from chase aircraft. The event caps a mission that saw Orion travel 1.3 million miles, including a record 268,553 miles from Earth.
Today's success could accelerate NASA's lunar ambitions amid growing international competition in space. The agency plans to announce Artemis II crew assignments later this year, with the first woman and person of color slated to orbit the Moon.
