NASA’s Orion capsule arrived at the moon on Monday, circling the far side and buzzing the lunar surface on its way to a record-breaking orbit with test dummies sitting on it for the astronauts.
It is the first time an American capsule has visited the moon since NASA’s Apollo program 50 years ago, and represents a major milestone in the US$4.1 billion test flight that began last Wednesday.
The closest approach of 128 kilometers occurred when the crew capsule and its three attached dummies were on the far side of the moon. Because of a half-hour communication blackout, flight controllers in Houston didn’t know if the critical engine ignition was OK until the capsule emerged from behind the moon, 370,000 kilometers from Earth.
The capsule’s cameras sent back an image of the world: a small blue orb surrounded by darkness.
“Our pale blue dot and its eight billion human inhabitants are now visible,” said Mission Control commentator Sandra Jones.
LOOK | The flyby, seen from NASA headquarters:
NASA’s Orion spacecraft completes flyby of the Moon
NASA Communications Officer Sandra Jones describes what was seen as the Orion spacecraft flew 130 kilometers from the Moon.
The capsule accelerated well past 8,000 km/h as it regained radio contact, NASA said. Less than an hour later, Orion soared above Tranquility Base, where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on July 20, 1969.
“This is one of those days you’ve been thinking about and talking about for a long time,” said Flight Director Zeb Scoville.
Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator:
A successful exit powered flyby recording is a big step in the mission
Congratulations to the thousands of team members. that have brought us to this point. And go to https://t.co/lmH0Pi6lft
—@SenBillNelson
Manned flight around the moon could happen in 2024
In the early hours of the morning, the moon was seen getting bigger and bigger in video broadcast as the capsule closed in on the final thousands of miles since blasting off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on the most powerful rocket ever built by NASA.
Orion needed to launch itself around the moon to gain enough speed to enter the warped and exposed lunar orbit. Flight controllers evaluated the data being dumped to determine if the engine ignition went as planned. Another shot will place the capsule in this elongated orbit on Friday.
Next weekend, Orion will break NASA’s distance record for a spacecraft designed for astronauts, nearly 400,000 kilometers from Earth, set by Apollo 13 in 1970. And it will keep going, reaching a maximum distance from Earth next Monday close to 433,000 kilometers.
The capsule will spend about a week in lunar orbit before returning home. A splash in the Pacific is expected on December 11.
LOOK | A Canadian astronaut is expected on the Artemis mission with a crew:
Canada’s role in planned trips to the moon
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen describes Canada’s key roles in new moon missions, from “incredible technology” to “niche” expertise in food delivery and evolving health care.
Orion has no lunar landings; a landing won’t come until NASA astronauts attempt a lunar landing in 2025 with SpaceX’s spacecraft. Before that, astronauts will hook up to Orion for a ride around the moon as early as 2024.
NASA managers were delighted with the mission’s progress. The Space Launch System rocket performed very well in its debut, reporters were told late last week.
The 98-meter rocket caused more damage than expected, however, to the Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad. The force of the four million kilos of take-off thrust was so great that it tore the elevator doors off.
LOOK | High hopes for Artemis, despite delays and budget overruns:
NASA successfully launches the Artemis I moon rocket
NASA’s Artemis I mission left for the Moon from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It’s an uncrewed test mission, but if successful, a Canadian astronaut will be on board for the next flight.