Orion spacecraft successfully went into orbit (and successfully returned to Earth)

The implementation of one of the most promising projects to create a reusable spacecraft is going well. Today, the Orion spacecraft was successfully launched , followed by a successful entry into the calculated orbit.

It is worth noting that the launch into orbit took place already 20 minutes after launch. Orion was sent into orbit with the help of a heavy booster Delta IV. Earlier, the launch was planned for December 4, but it was postponed due to several unfavorable reasons: strong wind, suspicion of engine problems (everything turned out well) and a ship sailing near the spaceport.
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In a few tens of minutes, the spacecraft will reach high orbit, about 5.8 thousand kilometers above the earth. This is 14 times the height of the ISS orbit. Orion will stay in high orbit for about two hours, after which it will return to Earth. When returning, the ship will enter the atmosphere of the Earth at a speed of about 32 thousand kilometers per hour, with the heating of the protective casing of the capsule to 2.2 thousand degrees Celsius.



The main goal of the current launch is to check the ship in the “field” conditions, that is, to have all the systems tested directly when the ship is launched and returned to Earth. It is Orion that will be used to send astronauts to the Moon’s orbit when an asteroid is delivered there, and to Mars (only then the super-heavy launch vehicle will be used).

UPD. The ship Orion successfully completed its mission, splashing in the Pacific Ocean.

Scientists and military are already heading to the capsule of the ship; now the main task is to load the capsule onto the ship and deliver it to its destination to study the effects of the flight.



It is worth noting that the flight time Orion, in total, amounted to more than four hours. In this case, the ship passed through the radiation belt of the Earth. As planned, at the end of the flight, the Orion capsule entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of about 30 thousand kilometers per hour, warming up to a temperature of 2.2 thousand degrees Celsius.

On board were installed sensors (more than a thousand instruments) that will help scientists investigate the course of the flight and its influence on the state of the ship.