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NASA’s Artemis I Mission Splashes Down in Pacific Ocean

NASA・154 minutes read

Apollo 17 Commander Gene Cernan and lunar module pilot Jack Schmidt guided Challenger to a pinpoint landing on the Moon's Taurus Litro. NASA's Orion spacecraft returns from a deep space mission, circling the Moon and beyond, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near Baja California.

Insights

Apollo 17 Commander Gene Cernan and lunar module pilot Jack Schmidt executed a precise landing on the Moon's Taurus Litro with Challenger.
NASA's Orion spacecraft is returning from a deep space mission, set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near Baja California.
Orion underwent trajectory correction burn and will experience a skip entry into Earth's atmosphere, testing its heat shield against extreme temperatures.
Recovery operations for Orion involve Navy divers stabilizing the spacecraft, taking photos for engineering purposes, and securing it for recovery.
Orion's successful mission covered 1.4 million miles, setting records for human-rated spacecraft distance and testing critical systems for future missions.
The recovery process for Orion involves extensive data gathering, including post-Splashdown analysis of the heat shield and parachute systems.

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Recent questions

What is the primary objective of the Orion spacecraft's mission?
The primary objective of the Orion spacecraft's mission is to test the heat shield's ability to bring astronauts safely back from deep space.
How does the recovery team secure the Orion spacecraft after Splashdown?
The recovery team stabilizes Orion with tow ropes, secures it for recovery, and takes above and underwater photography of the heat shield for engineering purposes.
What is the recovery process like for the Orion spacecraft post-Splashdown?
The recovery process involves gathering data for future missions, delicately pulling the spacecraft into the well deck of the USS Portland, and conducting a hazard analysis.
What are the key challenges faced by the recovery team during the operation?
The recovery team faced challenges with four to five-foot seas while securing the spacecraft, but they were well-prepared for the operation.
How does the Orion spacecraft's parachute system aid in a gentle Splashdown?
The parachute system includes drug parachutes made of ribbons and main parachutes made of nylon and Kevlar for safe crew recovery, ensuring a gentle Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

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Summary

00:00

"Orion's Record-Breaking Splashdown Mission Success"

Apollo 17 Commander Gene Cernan and lunar module pilot Jack Schmidt guided Challenger to a pinpoint landing on the Moon's Taurus Litro.
NASA's Orion spacecraft is returning from a deep space mission, circling the Moon and beyond, set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near Baja California.
Orion's entry team at Johnson Space Center in Houston is preparing for its return, with Flight Director Judd Frieling leading the team.
Orion conducted a return trajectory correction burn to fine-tune its path towards the Pacific Splashdown site.
Orion will undergo a skip entry into the Earth's atmosphere, providing aero braking and testing its heat shield against temperatures up to 5000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Communications with Orion may be blocked during entry due to heat-generated plasma, with two expected blackout periods.
Three parachutes will deploy to slow down Orion for a gentle splashdown in the Pacific, scheduled for 11:39:42 am Central Time.
The USS Portland, with Navy divers and helicopters, is prepared for Orion's recovery, with infrared targeting systems tracking Orion's heat shield and the forward Bay cover.
Navy divers will stabilize Orion with tow ropes and secure it for recovery, with above and underwater photography of the heat shield for engineering purposes.
Orion's successful mission, spanning 1.4 million miles, included a trans-lunar injection burn, a distant retrograde orbit, and a powered flyby of the Moon, setting records for human-rated spacecraft distance.

18:40

"Orion's Successful Splashdown and Recovery"

Orion reached its farthest distance from Earth, 268,000 miles, on November 28th before departing the retrograde orbit on December 1st.
A three-minute 27-second engine firing behind the moon occurred on Monday to prepare for the final leg of the flight, passing within 80 miles of the moon's surface.
The splashdown of Orion was scheduled for one hour, 21 minutes, and 44 seconds from a specific point in time.
The Artemis one program's initial mission was a test flight to assess the space launch system and the Orion spacecraft over 25 days.
Wayne Shearer, a Navy diver first class, led the recovery team for securing the Orion spacecraft after splashdown.
The recovery process involved a hazard analysis, taking pictures for engineering purposes, and using a pony collar to secure the spacecraft.
The recovery team faced challenges with four to five-foot seas while securing the spacecraft, but they were well-prepared for the operation.
The Orion spacecraft relied on a parachute system with 11 parachutes for a gentle splashdown, similar to the Apollo design but larger and stronger.
The parachute system included drug parachutes made of ribbons and main parachutes made of nylon and Kevlar for safe crew recovery.
Kathy Kerner, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems, praised the successful mission, grading it as an A+ and highlighting the rigorous testing of the heat shield for crew safety in future missions.

34:18

"Space Capsule Recovery: Helicopter Extraction and Analysis"

Crew will be extracted from the capsule via helicopter and transferred to the ship.
Returning astronauts experience physical deconditioning due to Earth's gravity after being in space.
Lunar missions present a middle ground in terms of physical adjustment compared to shuttle and space station missions.
Mental relief is felt upon returning to Earth as others handle details.
Recovery operations post-Splashdown will last about five hours to gather data for future missions.
Recovery director Melissa Jones leads the interagency team for capsule recovery.
Weather balloons are launched to inform Splashdown location, with small boats and helicopters ready for recovery.
Orion's plunge into Earth's atmosphere will reach temperatures of up to 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Extensive testing, including Arc Jets, has been conducted to ensure the heat shield's durability.
Post-flight analysis will focus on flight data and physical examination of the heat shield for future crewed missions.

49:56

Orion's Return: Mission's Final Phase Home

Orion's mission is in its final phase, with a focus on the return journey to Earth after 25 and a half days.
The European service module and the Orion crew module have been working together since 2019, fully assembled in 2020, and launched in October 2021.
The mission's primary objective is to test the heat shield's ability to bring astronauts safely back from deep space, with Orion traveling at 25,000 miles per hour.
The forward Bay cover of the crew module is designed to be pulled off by three parachutes, followed by a series of parachute deployments to slow down the descent.
Entry interface at 400,000 feet altitude is crucial for defining entry conditions, ensuring a safe re-entry angle and velocity.
A nominal skip maneuver will be executed to test the heat shield's capability, with 11 parachute deployments leading to a splashdown west of California.
After splashdown, red Inflatables will ensure Orion remains upright, and the USS Portland will recover the capsule in the Pacific Ocean.
The crew module and service module separated at 3200 statute miles altitude, with Orion flying on its own towards entry interface.
Orion will conduct role reversals during entry to control speed and thermal characteristics, aiming for subsonic speed before parachute deployment.
The final stages include forward Bay cover shoot deploy, drug shoots, and main parachute deployment, leading to a successful splashdown west of Baja California.

01:16:10

Orion's Re-entry: Blackouts, Splashdown, Success

Orion is currently at an altitude of 4,400,000 feet above Earth, traveling at 23,000 miles per hour south to North across the Pacific Ocean.
A blackout period of about 4 minutes and 48 seconds is imminent, marking the start of the spacecraft's re-entry journey.
The journey began 25.5 days ago with the launch of the space launch system and is now approaching the searing heat of re-entry.
Entry interface is expected in about 3 minutes, with Orion at an altitude of 400,000 feet and a speed of just under 25,000 miles per hour.
Following entry interface, a range to splash down of 3659 statute miles is anticipated.
The first blackout period, lasting just under 5 minutes, will commence shortly after entry interface.
The skip entry maneuver will be conducted after emerging from the first blackout period to dissipate heat and reduce velocity dramatically.
The second blackout period is expected to start about 6 minutes after the first, lasting around 7 minutes.
Following the blackout periods, the forward Bay cover will be jettisoned, initiating the parachute deployment sequence for Orion's descent.
Orion successfully splashes down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25-day mission, with all five crew module operating system bags fully inflated and the spacecraft stable.

02:02:11

Artemis Mission: Return to Moon and Beyond

The return to the Moon is a significant event marking new technology and a vision for the future of space exploration.
The Artemis mission, involving the Space Launch System, European support module, and Orion spacecraft, has exceeded expectations in performance.
Key tests for the mission included the successful functioning of the heat shield and parachutes.
NASA emphasizes open collaboration with international and commercial partners for space exploration.
The recovery process for the Orion spacecraft involves gathering data, powering down the vehicle, and delicately pulling it into the well deck of the USS Portland.
The recovery director, Melissa Jones, oversees the delicate operation of attaching lines and using Navy boats and winches for the recovery process.
The successful Splashdown of Orion marked a culmination of extensive training and preparation by the recovery team.
Bob Cabana, NASA's associate administrator, reflects on the successful mission and the emotional impact of the Splashdown.
The next step, Artemis 2, involves putting a crew on a vehicle to orbit the Moon, paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond.
NASA's focus is on sustainable space exploration, establishing a human presence beyond Earth to explore and improve technologies for the future.

02:20:42

Orion Capsule Recovery Mission Success

The primary objective of the test flight is to ensure the heat shield of the capsule works effectively.
The capsule will be preserved with images of the heat shield before being pulled into the well deck of the USS Portland.
The process involves attaching ropes and a winch line to the USS Portland, flooding the well deck, and Navy boats towing the capsule inside.
Ammonia boil-off from the capsule is awaited, with a maximum wait time of two hours before Navy boats approach.
Vanessa Weiss, Director of the Johnson Space Center, commends the teamwork and planning behind the successful mission.
Preparation for Artemis 2 involves integrating new systems and outfitting the cabin for crew members.
The recovery operation involves collaboration with the Department of Defense and intricate planning for the larger Orion capsule.
The timeline includes transporting the Orion capsule back to the Kennedy Space Center for inspection and analysis.
The recovery team aims to recover the parachutes and forward Bay cover, but they slip below the surface of the ocean.
The successful Splashdown of Orion involved a gentle descent and perfect execution of entry milestones, despite blackout periods during reentry.

02:38:53

Orion Splashdown Analysis and Future Mission Planning

Analysis of the Splashdown event is crucial to ensure everything went as planned, especially focusing on the heat shield.
Orion's successful mission was highlighted by exceeding power generation expectations and achieving major objectives.
Post-mission, extensive data analysis will be conducted to understand vehicle performance and plan for future missions.
The test flight's elevated risk due to no crew onboard allowed for expanded testing to gather essential data.
The Orion Mission team will focus on dissecting data post-mission to enhance operational capabilities for future missions.
Parallel work involves preparing the crew module for Artemis 2 while analyzing data from Artemis 1.
The USS Portland, chosen for its capabilities, will transport the Orion capsule back to San Diego using its well deck.
The ship's medical facilities are equipped to handle various injuries and even perform surgery if necessary.
NASA's footprint on the USS Portland includes around 150 engineers, well within the ship's capabilities.
The European Service Module played a critical role in the success of the mission, meeting and exceeding all expectations.

02:56:13

Global Collaboration for Sustainable Deep Space Exploration

Deep space exploration is a significant challenge that requires global collaboration and expertise.
The Timist program is initiated by NASA and ESA to facilitate sustainable exploration beyond Earth.
The USS Portland, off the coast of Baja California, is involved in recovering the Orion capsule.
Valerie Vinciolo, a senior engineer, analyzes wave heights to optimize the recovery process.
Wave monitoring systems on the ship provide data on wave height, direction, and period.
Recommendations are made to minimize motion in the well deck during the recovery process.
The recovery course of 320 is suggested to mitigate motion and minimize sloshing waves.
Doppler radar technology is used to monitor waves around the ship in three dimensions.
The crew module and astronauts are equipped with emergency locator beacons for tracking and rescue.
Advanced technologies and ground stations are utilized to track and differentiate between different beacons for efficient search and rescue operations.

03:14:03

Successful beacon deployment aids astronaut safety.

Beacons were placed on boats and inflatable boats to help astronauts locate them in case of emergency.
The purpose of the beacons was to ensure aircrews could differentiate between various beacons and assess the vehicle's performance after two weeks in space.
The operation involved a team effort with the Air Force, Navy, and national partners, resulting in flawless execution.
The crew successfully identified the capsule and two Angel beacons, indicating the application's two-year development was successful.
Randy Bresnick, a veteran astronaut, highlighted the successful launch platform, service module, and camera usage during the mission.
The mission's success gives confidence for future missions, including Artemis 2, scheduled for 2024.
Artemis 2 will involve a high elliptical orbit around the moon, combining elements of Apollo 7, 8, and 9 missions.
The astronaut office is focused on post-flight data analysis and preparing for Artemis 2, including crew assignments and spacesuit development.
The heat shield, the largest ablative heat shield for human spaceflight, was designed using a combination of old and new technology.
Testing the heat shield involved simulating reentry conditions, with final certification dependent on actual flight performance.

03:28:06

Orion Splashdown Mission and Recovery Operations

The entry team of flight controllers planned to hand the vehicle over to the exploration ground systems recovery team on the USS Portland after completing detailed flight test objectives.
The restart of an ammonia boiler system was conducted to test additional cooling requirements for a crew returning from the Moon for an extended period.
Orion's high-speed entry into Earth's atmosphere and successful splashdown were followed by post-Splashdown activities.
The Sasquatch team, led by Dr. Emily Spring, generates waypoints and footprints to predict the debris field from spacecraft splashdowns.
Data from CPAs drop tests was used to model the aerodynamic properties of debris objects, aiding in predicting their landing locations.
The Orion spacecraft traveled 1.4 million miles during its 25.5-day mission, culminating in a successful splashdown in the Pacific.
Flight controllers in Mission Control Houston powered down Orion's systems post-Splashdown, preparing to hand over the vehicle to the exploration ground systems team.
Navy helicopters, equipped with flare cameras, captured imagery of the Orion crew module post-Splashdown for engineering data and hazard analysis.
The helicopters circled the capsule to gather imagery and test new equipment, including the Angel Beacon for future crew retrieval missions.
Data from the Sasquatch team aided the helicopters in navigating the debris field and ensuring safe operations during the post-Splashdown mission.

03:51:12

Navy Pilots Support Astronauts in Mission

The mission involved young Navy Pilots supporting astronauts in a civilian nature mission, a career highlight for them.
The Pilots, including therapists and Ripper, supported the astronauts during the mission, eagerly anticipating the next mission with astronauts on board.
The operation to recover the Orion Command Module in the Pacific involved Navy boats connecting to the capsule and towing it back to the USS Portland, with the mission's completion marked by Splashdown at 11:40 a.m Central Time.

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