The Orion spacecraft, best known for being the vessel that astronauts would soon board on their way to the Moon, is now back at Kennedy Space Center for further inspection and study. NASA will do an "extensive analysis" of the spacecraft where its engineers would take some of the spacecraft apart, and look further at what the 1.4 million-mile trip brought it.
In 2022, humans' return to the Moon officially started with the uncrewed mission of NASA Artemis to test its spacecraft to the natural satellite and back.
NASA's Orion Spacecraft is Back at Kennedy Space Center
(Photo : NASA)
NASA's Orion Program Manager, Howard Hu, shared a photo of the Orion spacecraft as it arrived last December 30 at the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida.
This marks a significant milestone for the agency after it recently completed its mission and returned from the Moon to make a splash down on the Pacific Ocean. After its recovery, the spacecraft was transported to the Space Center by ground, which made its way to the location recently.
This also means that NASA and its team will inspect the spacecraft from top to bottom, with an "extensive analysis" soon underway for the spacecraft.
Its current focus is to determine different data and information gathered by the Orion on its round-trip journey to the Moon and the home planet, for its future mission.
NASA Artemis: Soon to Fly Humans to the Moon
According to NASA, this is a necessary procedure for the Orion, especially as this uncrewed mission is also a test of its capabilities to bring humans to space. The goal now is to make the Artemis mission more than capable to fly humans to the Moon and bring everything they need for studies on its surface and bring them back safe and sound.
NASA and its Moon Mission
The Moon used to be a big deal back in the 1970s, but after several missions, there has been a change in priorities for NASA which focused on looking into other places in the universe.
Now, with the revival of the old Apollo missions and an application of a modern take, the Artemis takes shape as the current focus of NASA toward the Moon.
There is more to do on the Moon despite the numerous missions of the Apollo, and this is what the Artemis would continue from this point onwards.
Still, it is centering on a new rocket and crewship, with the Space Launch System and the Orion to fulfill the travels and vessel to journey to the Moon and back for a modern visit to the space rock.
The Artemis will also bring the first woman to space, with its astronaut having a mix of genders on this mission, which is also the reason for its change of name to Apollo's twin. For now, NASA will be studying what the rigorous venture has caused its spacecraft, and also fix the weaknesses and challenges faced by the initial uncrewed mission before the actual one.
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