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.

Monday, December 12, 2022 at 09:10 AM ET

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

Key Takeaways:

NASA’s Orion spacecraft successfully completed its uncrewed Artemis I mission, splashing down after a record-breaking trip around the Moon.
The mission tested Orion, the Space Launch System (SLS), and conditions for future human deep-space exploration to the Moon and Mars.
Artemis I marks a significant step towards returning humans to the Moon, with crewed missions (Artemis II and III) planned for 2024 and beyond.

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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.