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Artemis I: Orion Completes Journey Around the Moon

NASA’s Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean early Sunday afternoon as part of the Artemis I flight test.

According to NASA, Orion approached Earth’s atmosphere at almost 25,000 miles per hour—nearly 32 times the speed of sound. [Credit: NASA]
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Key Takeaways:

  • NASA's Orion spacecraft successfully completed its 26-day uncrewed Artemis I mission, returning to Earth after orbiting the Moon.
  • The mission tested NASA's newest human-rated spacecraft, breaking records for the world's most powerful rocket launch (SLS) and traveling the farthest any human-rated spacecraft has flown from Earth.
  • Artemis I serves as a crucial first step in the program's goal to return humans to the Moon (Artemis II and III) and establish a sustained presence, preparing for future missions to Mars.
  • Orion performed a record-setting "skip maneuver" during its high-speed re-entry, demonstrating the spacecraft's ability to withstand extreme atmospheric conditions.
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NASA’s Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean Sunday afternoon, returning from its trip around the Moon.

The Artemis program, set to take humans back to the lunar surface, successfully completed its first major mission by testing Orion—NASA’s newest human-rated spacecraft.

Jeremy Kariuki

Jeremy attained his bachelor's in journalism and emerging media from Kennesaw State University. He also served in the Georgia Air National Guard as a C-130 Crew Chief for six years, holding an associate in aircraft maintenance technology.

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