NASA’s Orion Spacecraft Passes Within 80 Miles Of Moon’s Surface — Here’s What’s Next For Its Lunar Orbit

Topline

NASA’s Orion spacecraft reached within 80 miles of the moon’s surface Monday before beginning its lunar orbit, as the capsule is set to break the space agency’s record for distance traveled by a spacecraft designed for astronauts.

Key Facts

The Orion capsule emerged from behind the moon before sending images of the Earth to flight controllers in Houston Monday morning, signaling a success of the spacecraft’s critical engine.

Orion will reach a point more than 270,000 miles from the Earth during its journey—the farthest a spacecraft intended to carry humans has ever traveled.

NASA will begin collecting data about the spacecraft’s performance as it travels in a distant retrograde orbit around the moon—allowing for lesser fuel output while Orion travels around the moon in the opposite direction the moon travels around Earth.

A journey to circumnavigate the moon will take over 25 days before the capsule returns to Earth on Dec. 11.

Crucial Quote

NASA Bill Nelson said after Orion’s launch that the spacecraft will accelerate the agency’s Moon to Mars project, adding “this uncrewed flight test will push Orion to the limits in the rigors of deep space, helping us prepare for human exploration on the moon and, ultimately, Mars,” according to a release.

Big Number

$49.9 billion. That’s how much NASA has spent on the Orion deep space capsule and related infrastructure upgrades since the project began in 2006. Each Orion launch costs an estimated $4.1 billion.

What To Watch For

Howard Hu, manager of the Orion project, told the BBC that should the current flight be successful, a subsequent launch—projected for 2024—would return astronauts to the moon’s surface for the first time since Apollo 17’s landing in December 1972.

Key Background

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is intended “to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before,” according to its website. The launch of the Artemis 1 rocket last week is the first in a series of launches that seek to put humanity back on the moon. NASA plans for future flights of the Artemis 1 rocket will carry the first woman and person of color to step foot on the lunar surface. Following subsequent launches, the agency wants to establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface and eventually Mars.

Further Reading

NASA Capsule Buzzes Moon, Last Big Step Before Lunar Orbit (AP)

NASA’s Artemis 1 Mission Finally Takes Off Towards Moon—Another Small Step For Humankind Returning To Lunar Surface (Forbes)