Orion’s Inaugural Journey

nasa.com

The rumble was unmistakable as Orion blasted off December 5, 2014 at 7:05a.m. EST from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37. NASA administrator Charles Bolden stated, “Today’s flight test of Orion is a huge step for NASA and a really critical part of our work to pioneer deep space on our Journey to Mars. The teams did a tremendous job putting Orion through its paces in the real environment it will endure as we push the boundary of human exploration in the coming years.”

Orion traveled farther than any other spacecraft designed for astronauts. Orion’s mission was uncrewed due to the dangerous space Orion traveled through while doing two full loops around the Earth. I am excited to see the data results of the Van Allen belt that Orion traveled through. The Van Allen belt contains high levels of radiation and within it, Orion reached an altitude of 3,600 miles above Earth. Orion had to withstand temperatures reaching 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

nasa.com  Orion after splashdown 

Orion splashed down into the Pacific Ocean approximately 4.5 hours after lift-off. The Orion crew module landed about 600 miles southwest of San Diego. Data will be collected to know the exact capabilities of Orion’s avionics, heat shield, parachutes, computers, key separation events, and the running of all the internal systems critical to the safety of all the astronauts will be eventually travel in Orion around the year 2020.

nasa.com   Orion recovery

Orion’s next mission will be to launch NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket that is currently being developed at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The 70 metric-ton (77 ton) SLS will send Orion to a distant retrograde orbit around the moon.  Exploration Mission-1 will be the first test of the fully integrated Orion and SLS system. The integration is the imperative to explore beyond the moon.

Mark Geyer, the Orion Program Manager stated, “We really pushed Orion as much as we could to give us real data that we can use to improve Orion’s design going forward.  In the coming weeks and months we’ll be taking a look at that invaluable information and applying lessons learned to the next Orion spacecraft already in production for the first mission atop the Space Launch System rocket.”

 

nasa.com  Orion's parachutes

Orion’s successful test flight really brings to light the abilities NASA has to take astronauts past the moon. It has been 45 years since the first step on the moon. I know I was not alive to see that momentous occasion live. But we have all seen the footage in school and it makes you look up and wonder what is out there? Can we really travel to other planets and stars? Orion is the first step to realizing that we can see the universe. I know I wanted to travel the stars watching shows such as Star Trek: The Next Generation. Future generations will be looking back at Orion’s flight the same way we did with the first lunar landing. Beam me up Scotty, we are ready.

As Always, #keepitnerdy

Written by: Jenn Massa

Orion Launch Day, Take One

Orion is sitting at Cape Canaveral, just waiting for the wind to die down to launch. Launch was scheduled for 7:05a.m. EST but wind shear safety protocols have delayed the launch. 

I'm sitting here with my two-year-old anxiously waiting to hear that unmistakable roar of the rockets and that plume of white smoke burst out from underneath Orion. 

As I listen to Mission Control say go or no go for launch, I remember all the space movies I watched as a kid. We watched Apollo 13 in middle and high school as a part of science class. We talked about the Challenger disaster and how far we've come in the space program.

Even Orion is having some problems. Launch has been delayed now because one of the drain valves won't close in the launch procedures, causing an abort and reset. 

Despite the fact that launch has been delayed and then re-delayed, you can't help but be excited, (like a kid at Christmas) waiting to hear go for launch. 

As I wait for them to continue the launch cycle, I remember that this is a test flight of Orion, which is unmanned. If successful, Orion will take a 4 1/2 hour flight that will include two loops around earth.

Today's launch is the 24th Delta rocket launch. The Delta rockets on Orion are the biggest NASA has created yet. That's no small feat!!

Just a little tidbit of information for you this is the first launch in almost 40 years that will end up in the Pacific ocean since the last Apollo mission in 1975. Orion is set to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after 4 1/2 hour flight (NASA commentator, 2014). 

At 9:34a.m. EST the launch for today was scrubbed and a 24 reset cycle set. The launch was scrubbed to ensure that the nitrogen value issue is completely resolved. They also had to manually shut off the wind monitors if they had tried to proceed with today's launch.

I am totally disappointed but I think we all want to see a successful and problem free launch. 

Stay tuned for my next Orion post that will cover the next launch mission attempt. As always, keep your eyes to the sky and #keepitnerdy. 

Written by: Jenn Massa

Photo Credits: Jenn Massa

Orion T-Minus 18 Hours

nasa.gov

Did you ever think you would see NASA launch another spacecraft again? I know I certainly didn't. Tomorrow marks the momentous day as NASA launches the Orion spacecraft for the first time. 

On December 4, 2014, Orion will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations Space Launch Complex Flight test on a Delta IV heavy rocket.

The test flight will be the first of many, testing altitude and the new high speed re-entry systems. The re-entry systems include altitude control, avionics, heat shield, and parachutes.

nasa.gov

Future missions for Orion will include launching the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA's heavy duty rocket that will be responsible for sending our astronauts beyond the moon. 

The Orion spacecraft is built take humans farther than we've ever gone before. Forget just going to the moon, now we can go to asteroid belts, Mars, and beyond. 

If tomorrow's test flight is successful, NASA plans Exploration Mission-1 as the first mission to integrate Orion and the Space Launch System. 

nasa.gov

I know I'm beyond excited to see the launch of a brand-new space system. Who knows what could be in store if the launch is successful. I know I'll be watching anxiously as Orion takes its first flight. 

Keep your eyes to the sky because at 7:05a.m. ETS tomorrow Orion will take flight. 

Coverage on Orion will start at 4:30a.m. EST on NASA TV which is available on air and streaming at www.nasa.gov/nasatv (nasa.gov, 2014).

nasawatch,com

Keep your eyes on the sky and as always, #keepitnerdy

 Watch for our reaction to Orion's momentous launch later this week! 

 Written by: Jenn Massa

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