Saturday, January 10, 2015

The First Launch and Splashdown of the Orion Spacecraft, December 2014

Photo Credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls 
The unmanned Orion spacecraft, mounted on top of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy Rocket, launched on its first test flight at 7:05 a.m. EST, Friday December 5, 2014 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37.  The Orion is designed for long-distance travel to asteroids or Mars.  The video immediately below shows the lift-off and the next video shows the touch-down in the Pacific Ocean several hours later.

Click on the link below if video doesn't function.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEuOpxOrA_0

Click on the link below if video doesn't function.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdmZAvwznOU  

For an astronaut's-eye view of Orion's return through Earth's atmosphere check out the amazing video below taken from the Orion as it went through the atmosphere to its touchdown in the Pacific.

Click on the link below if video doesn't function