Orion Successful Test Flight Critical Step in a Future Deep Space Journey to Mars

Source: Tech Times

NASA, understandably pleased with the outcome of its Orion space capsule that may someday take astronauts to an asteroid or to Mars, called its first test launch, flight and recovery a "textbook" mission.

After two orbits around the Earth during which the operational reliability of the uncrewed capsule's flight-control and propulsion systems was tested, Orion splashed down at around 11:30 a.m. EST Friday about 630 miles southwest of San Diego, where a small fleet of recovery vessels awaited.

"It was just such a textbook spaceflight," said NASA astronaut Rex Walheim, a member of Orion's development team. "That's what we want for our first flight."

In the 5-hour test flight the Orion spacecraft traveled farther than any spacecraft designed to carry humans has in more than 40 years, the space agency said.

Read more: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/21662/20141206/orion-successful-test-flight-critical-step-in-a-future-deep-space-journey-to-mars.htm