
NASA's Orion spacecraft floats in the Pacific Ocean after splashdown from its first flight test in Earth orbit. The spacecraft completed a two-orbit, four-and-a-half-hour mission in Earth orbit. NASA, the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin are coordinating efforts to recover Orion, the forward bay cover and main parachutes. Orion will be towed in and secure in the well deck of the nearby USS Anchorage. Orion's mission tested systems critical to crew safety, including the launch abort system, the heat shield and the parachute system. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is leading the recovery efforts.
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NASA ID
KSC-314D-0556_0008
Date Created
December 5, 2014
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Photographer
Anthony W. Gray
Location
USS Anchorage, San Diego, CA
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Medium
960px