Orion Flies Two Orbits, Splashes Down Safely in Pacific

Orion Exploration Flight Test launch. (Credit: NASA)

Critical Step on the Journey to Mars

The Orion crew module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean approximately 600 southwest of San Diego at 11:29 a.m. EST. Orion’s powerdown is complete. The recovery team from NASA, the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin will perform initial recovery operations, including safing the crew module and towing it into the well deck of the USS Anchorage ahead of its return to U.S. Naval Base, San Diego and then on to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion launched from Cape Canaveral this morning (video, image) at 7:05 a.m. A briefing with post mission updates will be aired live on NASA TV at 1:30 p.m.