| Nasa's new Orion spacecraft made a 'bull's-eye' splashdown in the Pacific today following a dramatic test flight that took it twice around Earth in 4.5 hours. The spacecraft, which could someday take humans to Mars, made a fiery 20,000 mph (32,000 kph) re-entry into the planet enduring temperatures of 2,200°C (4,000°F). Cameras fitted to the rocket and capsule captured the entire mission - giving an unprecedented 'Orion's-eye' view from inside the capsule that could on day take man to Mars. Scroll down for videos 
+47 Looking home: Cameras onboard the Orion capsule took this stunning snap of the Earth during re-entry. Flames show the incredible heat the capsule was subjected to, as it hit speeds of 20,000 mph and weathered temperatures approaching 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Cameras onboard Orion captured its entire mission, from blast off (left) to its climb into orbit (right) 
Boosters separated (left), soon followed by casings that protected the capsule during take off (right) 
+47 An astronaut's eye view: A camera mounted insde the capsule looking out a windows captured this stunning image of Earth MISSION STATS During the uncrewed test, Orion traveled twice through the Van Allen belt, where it experienced periods of intense radiation, and reached an altitude of 3,600 miles above Earth. The spacecraft hit speeds of 20,000 mph and weathered temperatures approaching 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit as it entered Earth's atmosphere. If astronauts had been onboard Orion, they would have experienced a g-force of 8.2 - nearly twice that generated when Soyuz capsules return from the International Space Station. Orion hit its target point 275 miles (442 km) west of Baja, California, and achieved at least one record: flying farther and faster than any capsule built for humans since the Apollo moon program. 'There's your new spacecraft, America,' Mission Control commentator Rob Navias said as the Orion capsule neared the water. He called the journey 'the most perfect flight you could ever imagine.' The capsule reached a peak altitude more than 14 times farther from Earth than the International Space Station. No spacecraft designed for astronauts had gone so far since Apollo 17, 42 years ago. Nasa needed to send Orion that high in order to set the crew module up for a rapid and fiery entry. That was considered the most critical part of the entire flight - testing the largest of its kind heat shield for survival before humans climb aboard. In 11 minutes, Orion slowed from to 20 mph (32km/h) at splashdown - its final descent aided by eight parachutes deployed in sequence. Earth shrank from view through Orion's capsule window during its trip out to space, and stunning images were relayed back home. Its return was recorded by an unmanned drone flying over the recovery zone, providing more spectacular views. Helicopters then relayed images of the crew module bobbing in the water. Three of the five air bags deployed properly, enough to keep the capsule floating upright. '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,' said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. '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.' The capsule will now be driven back to Kennedy on the back of a truck - and officials said they hoped it would arrive by Christmas. 
+47 Rapid entry: Three main parachutes brought Orion safely back to Earth after its flight (pictured). If astronauts had been on board Orion as it plunged back they would have experienced a g-force of 8.2 - nearly twice that generated when Soyuz capsules return from the ISS Splashdown! NASA's Orion mission lands in the Pacific 
+47 
+47 Back to Earth: After two perfect laps around the planet, Orion has come back down to Earth with a huge splash in the Pacific Ocean 
+47 There were a number of key moments throughout the flight (shown in diagram), designed to test the capability of Orion, all of which it passed without a hitch. In total the flight lasted about four and a half hours The US Navy was there to recover the spacecraft 630 miles (1,013km) southwest of San Diego, where it will be brought to land. All the parachutes did their job, but only two of the eight were recovered. The agency reported some positive results, saying onboard computers were unaffected by high radiation in space WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The U.S. Navy pulled up in a pair of ships to recover the spacecraft and transport it to San Diego, 630 miles away. Orion ended up just 1½ miles from the predicted splashdown spot. Only two of the parachutes could be recovered. Once ashore, Orion will be transported by truck back to Cape Canaveral, just in time for Christmas. It is supposed to soar again in 2017 in a launch abort test, followed by a second Orion heading to space in 2018 aboard the megarocket under development by NASA. Officials expect it will be at least seven years from now — 2021 — before Orion carries people, given present budget constraints. '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,' said Mark Geyer, Orion Program manager. '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.' A fifth of the heat shield burned away during re-entry as temperatures reached 2,200°C (4,000°F) - twice as hot as molten lava. However, that is only half as hot as the spacecraft will get when returning from the moon and entering the atmosphere at 20 per cent greater velocity. Eleven parachutes, deployed in sequences, slowed the spacecraft down until it was travelling at just 20mph by the time it made a 'bulls-eye' splashdown in the Pacific. It follows a near-perfect test-flight earlier today. Riding atop a fountain of fire, the 24-story-tall Orion spacecraft soared above the Atlantic Ocean at 12.05 GMT (07.05 ET), punching through partly cloudy skies. 'The star of the day is Orion,' said Nasa Administrator Charles Bolden, back for the second morning in a row. He called it 'day one of the Mars era.' 
+47 From 20,000 mph to zero: Three of the five airbags on board fully deployed, one partially deployed and the other didn't seem to deploy. However, these were enough to keep the spacecraft upright 
+47 On target: Orion splashed down at its target point 275 miles (442 km) west of Baja, California while travelling at around 20mph (32km/h) Congratulations to @NASA on the flawless Orion flight, as well as to program prime contractors @LockheedMartin and @Boeing! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 5, 2014 
+47 On Mars at the moment there are currently two operational rovers, Curiosity and Opportunity, and Nasa hopes one day astronauts will join them on the red planet. Curiosity tweeted its support for Orion, saying: 'We're one step closer to bootprints next to these tracks' The maiden launch of the Orion spacecraft was postponed yesterday after a technical fault, a stray boat and poor weather conditions hampered efforts to blast into space. However, today's test flight and splashdown were described by Nasa as 'picture perfect'. As the rocket roared into orbit, cameras streamed video showing dramatic pictures of the two side boosters falling away and the curved edge of the Earth. Orion reached a peak altitude of 3,600 miles (5,800 km) on its second lap around the planet, giving the capsule the necessary momentum for a scorchingly high-speed re-entry over the Pacific. The spacecraft also travelled through Earth's Van Allen radiation belts that protect the planet from charged particles. Scientists say this will show how well equipment tolerates radiation like that experienced on the long journey to Mars. Just three minutes into the launch, the spacecraft was already travelling at five times the speed of sound. But Orion would ultimately travel much faster. Engineers wanted to see how the heat shield - the largest of its kind ever built - held up when Orion came back through the atmosphere travelling 20,000 mph (32,200 kph) and enduring temperature of 2,200°C (4,000°F). WHAT HAPPENED DURING ORION'S BLAZING DESCENT BACK DOWN TO EARTH? Four hours and five minutes after launching, Orion exited the intense radiation of the Van Allen belts, its cameras were turned on and it prepared for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. This was the major test for the spacecraft; Nasa needed to know the heat shield could cope with the extreme condtions of re-entry when returning from future missions to the moon, an asteroid or Mars. Eight and a half minutes after leaving the belts, Orion reached the upper limits of Earth's atmosphere and began to generate heat as it passed through at about 20,000mph (32,000 km/h), with its thrusters maintaining control and keeping its heat shield pointing down. Just a few seconds later, as planned, the flight control team lost contact with Orion for about 2.5 minutes as a superheated plasma formed around the capsule, blocking signals in and out. Orion then experienced the hottest period of its return through the atmosphere with its heat shield reaching temperatures approaching 2,200°C (4,000°F), twice as hot as molten lava, and g-forces of about eight Gs. Heading through the atmosphere also slowed the spacecraft drastically, from 20,000mph (32,000 km/h) to just 300mph (480 km/h). The spacecraft passed this test without a hitch. After travelling through the atmosphere for more than four minutes, the spacecraft jettisoned its forward bay cover. This had on it the tiles that protect Orion from the heat of re-entry. The tiles dissipate heat away from the spacecraft and ensure the temperatures stay habitable. The forward bay cover had three parachutes of its own that lowered it to the Pacific Ocean safely. A couple of seconds after it jettisoned the cover, Orion deployed two drogue parachutes that slowed the spacecraft, which was travelling at 300mph (480 km/h) at the time. A minute later, three pilot parachutes then pulled the three massive main parachutes out - which would cover the size of a football field. These slowed Orion from about 100mph (160km/h) to less than 20mph (30km/h). And finally, four hours, 23 minutes and 29 seconds after launching, Orion landed in the Pacific Ocean 275 miles (442 km) west of Baja, California. Airbags deployed to keep the spacecraft upright, in a position known as 'Stable 1'. Stable 2 would have meant it was upside down, while Stable 3 would mean it is on its side. Three of the five airbags on board fully deployed, one partially deployed and the other didn't seem to deploy. However, these were enough to keep the spacecraft upright. This is important for future missions, as if it does not stay upright then getting the astronauts out is much more difficult, and potentially dangerous. Orion ultimately will be pulled to the deck of the ship USS Anchorage by a combined Nasa and US Navy team, bringing to an end the mission that has taken the first step towards Mars. 
+47 Safe landing: Eleven parachutes, deployed in sequences, slowed the spacecraft down until it was travelling at just 20mph by the time it made a 'bulls-eye' splashdown in the Pacific 
+47 On hand: US Navy ships were waiting to retrieve Orion and return it to land after its 4.5 hour journey twice around Earth 'New era of American space exploration': Orion spaceship launch 
+47 First step towards Mars: Orion's Delta IV Heavy rocket clears the service tower that sits alongside the launchpad at Cape Canaveral. The high-stakes test flight is meant to usher in a new era of human exploration leading ultimately to Mars 
+47 This incredible picture taken by astronaut Rex Walheim from the ground shows the moment Orion 'punched a hole' through the clouds of Earth on its way to space after launching on top of the Delta IV Heavy rocket 
+47 
+47 Leaving Earth: Riding atop a fountain of fire, the 24-story-tall Orion spacecraft soared above the Atlantic Ocean at 12.05 GMT (07.05 ET) today 
+47 Stunning: Orion was pictured here just hours before launch. The earliest Orion might carry passengers is 2021, according to Nasa The atmosphere at Kennedy Space Center was reminiscent of the shuttle-flying days. After more than three years since the last shuttle flight, Nasa reveled in all the attention. Launch commentator Mike Curie fed the enthusiasm in the gathered crowds, calling it 'the dawn of Orion in a new era of American space exploration.' Mark Geyer, Orion programme manager at Nasa, said: 'It was very good to see how well the rocket did its job and very exciting to see it go up into space. 'Now it is actually doing the job it was designed to do. We still have a long way to go with this mission but everything is going great. 'We had a few key tests to run in the first six minutes of the flight that were very important for us. 'We jettisoned the service module fairings which are there to reduce mass on the rest of Orion. This is a critical event for these pyrotechnic systems and it went perfectly.' A NEW DAWN OF SPACE EXPLORATION: ORION'S JOURNEY TO SPACE AS IT HAPPENED 
+47 Down to Earth: Orion had a rapid re-entry into the atmosphere at speeds close to 32,000km/h (20,000mph), according to Nasa 7.01am EST All launch teams give the 'GO' for liftoff. 7.05am EST Liftoff. Orion's Delta IV Heavy rocket blasts off from the launchpad in a cloud of smoke and flame. 7.06am EST Nasa mission control reports that Orion has cleared the service tower as the swing arms connected to the rocket swiveled backward out of its way. 7.07am EST Orion enters the area of maximum dynamic pressure, the point when the aerodynamic forces of launch are at their greatest. 7.07am EST The Delta IV Heavy and Orion go supersonic. 7.09am EST The port and starboard booster rockets burn through their entire fuel supplies and separate four minutes and 10 seconds into the flight. 7.10am EST The second stage of the Delta IV rocket takes over as the first stage falls away five minutes and 43 seconds after launch. 7.12am EST Four panels that provided structural support around Orion's service module through the early phases of launch are jettisoned. 7.12am EST Shortly after the white tower and dome structure over the Orion capsule, known as the Launch Abort System, fired rockets to pull away from the rocket to leave Orion exposed. In future manned missions this will provide an emergency escape mechanism during launch. 7.19am EST Orion reaches 15,000 mph as it soars towards the start of its orbit. 7.23am EST The second stage engine of the Delta IV cuts off, leaving the spacecraft to coast for 97 minutes towards its first orbit of the Earth. During this time flight controllers evaluate telemetry data. 7.24am EST Orion and the second stage rocket enter gentle roll to help distribute heat around the spacecraft as it begins orbiting the Earth. 8.56am EST Orion finishes its first orbit of the Earth. 9.01am EST The second stage rocket reignites to push Orion out to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth. It creates 24,750 pounds and the burn lasts for four minutes and 42 seconds. 9.05am EST The second stage engine cuts off but remains attached along with the service module until three hours 9 minutes into the mission. 9.11am EST Orion enters the lower Van Allen belt, the area of space around the Earth that contains intense levels of radiation, after two hours and five minutes of flight. 9.26am EST Orion leaves the Van Allen Belt. Cameras on board were turned off to protect them from the high energy radiation, which will pose a significant threat to astronauts leaving Earth on future missions to Mars or an asteroid. Orion has been packed with 1,200 sensors to measure conditions inside the capsule during the test flight to see what it would be like for humans. 9.37am EST Orion reaches more than 2,100 miles above Earth as it travels out towards its peak altitude 9.56am EST US Navy and Nasa recovery teams deploy off the coast of California in preparation for splashdown as Orion crosses the 3,000-mile altitude mark. 10.13am EST Orion reaches 3,604.2 miles above the Earth and begins heading back towards the surface at 20,000 mph. The capsule encounters more than eight times the force of gravity (8.2 Gs) during re-entry. 10.13am EST Nasa flight controllers activate the spacecraft's reaction control system thrusters to steer the spacecraft as it descends. 10.23am EST Orion and the Delta IV Heavy second stage rocket adjusted their positioning so the crew module can separate safely. 10.29am EST The Delta IV rocket and Orion's service module separate, leaving Orion's crew module on its own for the first time. On board computers make adjustments to control its flight path as it prepares to begin its re-entry. 
+47 'Picture perfect': All stages of the launch went to plan. Nasa launch commentator Mike Curie fed the enthusiasm in the gathered crowds, calling it 'the dawn of Orion in a new era of American space exploration' 
+47 
+47 View from Orion: The unmanned spacecraft blasted off in a cloud of smoke on a historic test-flight to orbit the Earth twice (left). Things soon heated up as it made its way high into Earth's atmosphere (right) 
+47 Fired up: Space enthusiasts gather to watch the historic launch. They had come back for a second day, after yesterday's launch was aborted Orion is being developed alongside the world's most powerful rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), which is due to make its maiden launch in 2018 or 2019. Together, SLS and Orion will allow Nasa to send humans into deep space to destinations such as Mars. For this launch, Orion was strapped to a Delta IV Heavy rocket - currently the largest launch system in the world. Three RS-68 engines produced about two million pounds of thrust at lift-off. Five and a half minutes after launch, at an altitude of around 200 miles (320km), fuel ran out on both the Delta IV's main and booster engines. A couple of seconds later, the entire bottom end - or the 'first stage' of the rocket - detached, while the second stage engine ignited to take Orion to a higher orbit. The upper stage's protective fairings were then jettisoned, along with the launch abort system, which is designed to protect the astronauts in the case of an emergency during launch by carrying the capsule to safety. THE FAULT WITH ORION'S FUEL VALVES AND HOW NASA FIXED THEM BY GIVING THEM A 'WAGGLE' The first attempt to launch the Orion Space Capsule on Thursday had to be abandoned after a rogue boat in the area, wind gusts and a faulty valve led the spacecraft to miss its launch window. Automatic fault detection systems picked up a fault with the fill and drain valves in the fuel tanks of the Delta IV Heavy rocket, causing the countdown to be placed on hold. Overnight Nasa engineers examined the rocket and found that the valves had malfunctioned due to the super-cold temperatures they were exposed to from the liquid hydrogen fuel. The tanks were kept at -252°C (-423°F) to keep both the hydrogen and oxygen propellants in liquid form before they are combined and ignited with explosive force. Exposed to these temperatures the valves essentially froze shut, leading to the £236m ($370 million) launch being postponed until Friday. Nasa said that on Friday it implemented a procedure to open and close the valves several times to keep them from seizing up. A spokesman told Mail Online: 'Managers and engineers determined that the fill and drain valves, which had been immersed in liquid hydrogen for more than two hours, became sluggish when subjected to the super-cold -423 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. 'After diagnosing the issue, a procedure was implemented today to open and close the valves several times to ensure they did not become sluggish. 'The plan worked and all the valves performed flawlessly today.' 
+47 
+47 A new dawn: Nasa's new Orion spacecraft streaked into orbit Friday on a high-stakes test flight meant to usher in a new era of human exploration leading ultimately to Mars 
+47 Here astronauts Rex Walheim (left), Jack Fischer and Cady Coleman watch from mission control as Orion made its way back to Earth 
+47 Delayed: Orion was set to launch at 12.05 GMT (07:05 local time) yesterday, but wind gusts temporarily delayed lift-off with less than four minutes left in the countdown 
+47 Ambition: The earliest Orion might carry passengers is 2021; a mission to an asteroid is on the space agency's radar sometime in the 2020s and Mars, the grand prize, in the 2030s 
+47 Under pressure: The launch gave engineers the opportunity to check the performance of Orion's critical heat shield, which experience temperatures in excess of 2,200°C (4,000°F) 
+47 A view from space: Astronauts onboard the International Space Station watch the launch of Orion from their lofty vantage point above Earth 
+47 Looking back: On-board cameras captured Orion's first view of the Earth as it began a slow roll to regulate temperatures during its orbit After two hours, and one orbit of Earth, the second-stage rocket was ignited again, moving Orion up to an altitude of 3,600 miles (5,800 km). This is 15 times the distance to the ISS and caused Orion to travel through the high-radiation Van Allen Belts. At three hours after lift-off, Orion hit its peak altitude and then slowly started its descent back to Earth The flight program had been loaded into Orion's computers well in advance, allowing the spacecraft to fly essentially on autopilot. It gave engineers the opportunity to check the performance of Orion's critical heat shield, which experienced temperatures in excess of 2,200ºC (4,000°F). Its re-entry speed into the atmosphere was close to 20,000mph (32,000km/h) - similar to the speed of the Apollo capsules that returned from the moon in the 1960s and 1970s. 
Separation: After launch Orion separated from its service module and the Delta upper stage, and eventually prepared to return to Earth (animation shown) 
+47 Waiting game: News photographers and journalists watched as the sun rose on the Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft waiting for lift-off on the launch pad from the Cape Canveral Air Force Station in Florida 
+47 New dawn of space travel: Orion will allow the United States to send its own astronauts into space for the first time since the Space Shuttle 
+47 Next step: This mission is unmanned, but in the future Nasa hopes to use the Orion craft to send astronauts to an asteroid, and someday Mars The spacecraft was rigged with 1,200 sensors to gauge everything from heat to vibration to radiation. Before launch, Geyer said: 'We're going to test the riskiest parts of the mission. Ascent, entry and things like fairing separations, Launch Abort System jettison, the parachute, plus the navigation and guidance - all those things are going to be tested. 'Plus, we'll fly into deep space and test the radiation effects on those systems.' A crucial test came when Orion flew through the Van Allen belts, which are two layers of charged particles orbiting around Earth. 'The ISS would not have to deal with radiation but we will, and so will every vehicle that goes to the moon,' Geyer told the BBC. 'That's a big issue for the computers. These processors that are now so small - they're great for speed but they're more susceptible to radiation. 'That's something we have to design for and see how it all behaves.' Another key test was on the heat shield on Orion's base, designed to protect the craft from the searing temperatures of atmospheric re-entry. It is 16.5ft (five metres) across and is the biggest, most advanced of its kind ever made. 
+47 
+47 Having a blast: On the left is Nasa Administrator Charles Bolden and his wife Jackie Bolden, watching as the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket lifts-off. The right image shows Mac Magee, 11, of Jackson, waving a #Orion sign at cameras 
+47 What happened after launch? Just minutes after lift-off, the entire bottom end - or the 'first stage' of the rocket - detached, while the second stage engine ignited to take Orion to a higher orbit 
+47 Flight sequence: Five and a half minutes after launch, at an altitude of around 200 miles (320km), fuel ran out on both the Delta IV's main and booster engines. This triggered a separation which sent Orion into a higher orbit 
+47 Test flight: Orion is making two big laps around Earth before re-entering the atmosphere at 20,000 mph (32,200 km/h). Pictured is an artist's impression of the Orion craft in orbit Even though it bears a strong resemblance to the Apollo command module that carried astronauts to the moon in the 1960s, it is bristling with the latest technology that makes it markedly different. 'There's an obvious comparison to draw between this first Orion launch and the first unmanned flight of the Apollo spacecraft on Apollo 4 [in 1967], but there are more differences than similarities,' space historian Amy Teitel told MailOnline. 'Apollo 4 flew a nearly lunar-ready command and service module, was the first flight of the Saturn V rocket, and demonstrated that both the S-IVB rocket stage and the spacecraft's own engine could ignite in a vacuum. 'The EFT-1 flight is only testing a spacecraft; it doesn't even have its service module! 'With Apollo 4, we knew we were going to the moon and it was clear this mission was putting us firmly back on that path after the major setback of the Apollo 1 fire. With Orion, we don't have a clear goal and a firm timeline for this new spacecraft.' HOW DOES ORION COMPARE TO APOLLO MODULE THAT TOOK MAN TO THE MOON IN 1969? 
+47 A 'new Apollo'? Orion bears a strong resemblance to the Apollo command module that carried Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon in 1969, but it is bristling with the latest technology that makes it markedly different The Orion space capsule will enable Nasa to send its own astronauts into space for the first time since the Space Shuttle programme was scrapped. But the next-generation vehicle will also herald a new era of space travel as it has been designed to carry humans to land on asteroids and even to other worlds. Ultimately Nasa hopes Orion will allow astronauts to make the first manned journey to Mars. Perhaps understandably the development of Orion has helped reawaken some of the atmosphere of excitement that surrounded Nasa during the Apollo missions that first landed mankind on the moon. But with almost exactly 42 years between the last Apollo mission, Apollo 17, which launched on 7 December 1972, and the first flight of Orion, the technology has moved on considerably. On the surface the two space capsules look the same - they are cone-shaped, and have a large heat shield to protect the astronauts from the intense conditions during re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere. However, Orion is larger, capable of carrying four crew members rather than Apollo's three. It will also have to carry far more supplies than Apollo ever did. The last Apollo mission saw a two man crew spend just three days on the moon's surface while a mission to an asteroid or to Mars could see astronauts spending up to 450 days in space. Like the Apollo Command Module, Orion has a Service Module attached that houses a single large engine, batteries and storage. However, Orion will carry a pair of solar arrays to help keep the capsule powered in space - technology that Apollo did not use. Orion also uses up-to-date computers, electronics, life support and propulsion systems. The electronics also have a far more sophisticated radiation shielding than the Apollo modules. Nasa has also used some hard lessons to improve the heat shield. Measuring 16.5 feet (five metres) across, it is the largest heat shield ever built for a spacecraft and has been covered in a new material called Avcoat. Nasa has also improved the parachutes, once used to land the Apollo spacecraft and slow the Space Shuttle, to help Orion land more safely in the water when it splashes down after a mission. 
+47 Final countdown: The Orion capsule sits on top of the Delta IV Heavy rocket at the launch pad in Florida. Yesterday, it had to await the removal of a boat that had strayed into waters close to the launch site before the first launch could be attempted - before a faulty valve scuppered it 
+47 Poised: Orion awaits launch in Florida. This was the first attempt to send a spacecraft capable of carrying humans beyond a couple hundred miles above Earth since the Apollo moon mission But at 11ft (3.6 metres) tall with a 16.5ft (5 metres) base, Orion is much larger than the old-time Apollo capsules, and is designed to carry four astronauts rather than three. The earliest Orion might carry passengers is 2021; a mission to an asteroid is on the space agency's radar sometime in the 2020s and Mars, the grand prize, in the 2030s. 'We're approaching this as pioneers,' said William Hill of Nasa's exploration systems development office. 'We're going out to stay eventually. It's many, many decades away, but that's our intent.' However, Nasa has yet to develop the technology to carry out manned surface operations on Mars. ORION WANTS TO TAKE PEOPLE TO MARS, BUT CAN HUMANS SURVIVE A JOURNEY TO THE RED PLANET? 
+47 Can we survive a trip to Mars? Pictured is the surface of the red planet, as seen by the Viking I Lander Scientists hope Orion will return humans to the moon by 2020 and transport the first visitors to Mars in the 2030s. But the 140 million-mile (225 million km) journey to Mars will involve extreme hazards threatening the lives of astronauts. Space is filled with dangerous radiation that the Earth's atmosphere shields us from. The greatest threat comes from high energy streams of subatomic particles pouring out of the sun that can damage DNA, leading to cancer. How big is the radiation risk? Nasa's Curiosity Mars rover was hit by 0.66 sieverts of radiation during its 253-day trip to Mars. That's the equivalent of receiving a whole body CT X-ray scan every five or six days. Intense bursts of radiation and particles erupting from the sun, in large solar flares or coronal mass ejections, have the power to disrupt electrical equipment and deliver potentially lethal doses. Radiation shielding coating the spacecraft can offer some protection. Is there a danger of being hit by a meteorite? Big and small rocks are continually flying around the Solar System, millions of which go undetected. On a long journey through space the risk of being hit is not negligible, and even a tiny meteorite could wreak unimaginable damage. Bigger objects can be steered around if detected in advance, and Nasa has been developing armour-like materials and double-layer walls to protect against smaller objects. How easy is it to land on Mars? The answer is, not easy at all, which is why so many Mars missions have failed. Overall the success rate of landing on Mars is only about 50 per cent. This is one area where it pays off to have humans on board rather than relying on computers. During the Apollo moon missions, Nasa never lost a single lander, despite some very close shaves. Mars is much more challenging, though, because it has an atmosphere and appreciable gravity. How bad is a Mars trip for your health? Without gravity, bones become brittle and muscles start to waste away. There is also evidence that gravity affects the way the brain works. The astronauts will have to undergo strict exercise regimes to make up for the lack of gravity. Another solution would be to provide at least some degree of artificial gravity by spinning the spacecraft as it travels. Psychological health is considered a very imported issue for long distance space travellers. The astronauts will need to be mentally tough to cope with being so far from home in the knowledge that so far out in space there can be no hope of rescue. Why go to Mars at all? Many experts say only so much can be done with robots. Humans are just so much better at finding and selecting samples, and spotting the unexpected. Others argue that it will inspire children and unite humanity in a common adventure. Some say that confining ourselves to a planet with limited resources is simply not an option if the human race is to survive. 
+47 On track: In the months leading up to launch, Orion esd rigorously tested as engineers prepared it for the journey beyond low Earth orbit 
+47 Recovery: The US Navy and Nasa recovery teams were on station off the cost of California and ready to recover Orion after landing By comparison, it took eight years from the time President John Kennedy announced his intentions of landing a man on the moon - before John Glenn even became the first American to orbit Earth - to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's lunar bootprints in 1969. Given the present budget situation, 'it is what it is,' said Kennedy Space Center's director Robert Cabana, a former astronaut. And the presidential election ahead could bring further delays and uncertainties. Lockheed Martin is handling the £236 million ($370 million) test flight, and Nasa will be overseeing its operation. Nasa's last trip beyond low-Earth orbit in a vessel built for people was Apollo 17 in December 1972. 'This is just the first of what will be a long line of exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit,' said Bill Hill, deputy associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development. 'In a few years we will be sending our astronauts to destinations humans have never experienced. It's thrilling to be a part of the journey now, at the beginning.' Astronaut Rex Waldheim, who flew the last shuttle mission in 2011 and is helping to design Orion's interior systems, told Nasa TV: 'The ultimate destination is Mars. Everybody wants to go to Mars. 'It's important to go there and establish a presence on another planet so we become a multi-planetary species.' He added: 'Now we've turned the corner and Orion is flying, and it's a very exciting time.' THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL CARGO BEING CARRIED 3,600 MILES INTO SPACE ON ORION'S FIRST TEST FLIGHT 
+47 Technicians pack bags to be placed into Orion's stowage lockers with items from Sesame Street including a cookie belonging to Cookie Monster, Ernie's rubber duck, Grover's cape and Slimey the Worm Nasa packed its Orion space capsule with experiments and sensor designed to measure the conditions inside the vehicle. However, also hitching a ride 3,600 miles (5,800km) above Earth were a Captain Kirk toy, a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil and some Sesame Street puppets. They are all part of a weird collection of artefacts, celebrity photos and memorabilia that had been placed inside Orion's storage lockers. Nasa also placed a tiny sample of lunar soil, along with a fossil from a Tyrannosaurus rex donated by the Denver Science Museum, into the capsule. A microchip carrying the names of more than a million people who submitted their names were also carried onboard. Lockheed Martin, the main contractor on Orion, worked with the Entertainment Industries Council to collect items from science fiction-related celebrities to place on Orion. William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series and is a noted space enthusiast, supplied an action figure of 'Captain Kirk in Environmental Suit'. 'William Shatner is thrilled to send Kirk back to space and support Orion, while inspiring future generations about space travel,' EIC vice president Skylar Jackson told collectSPACE . Director Jon Favreau offered an Iron Man challenge coin while Back to the Future actress Claudia Wells provided signed cast photos and a Delorean time machine model. Mayim Bialik, from The Big Bang Theory, also gave pictures of her ancestors. A collection of pins, medals and artworks will also be carried in the Orion lockers. Also among the cargo were props from Sesame Street including a cookie belonging to Cookie Monster, Ernie's rubber duck, Oscar the Grouch's pet Slimey the Worm and Grover's cape. When they return to Earth they will take prized spots on the long-running television programme in a bid to educate millions of children about space. In a statement on its website, Nasa said: 'Together, the artifacts chart humanity's progress and technological advancement as the nation takes a critical step forward on the Journey to Mars.' Carrying commemorative cargo into space, however, is not a new tradition and has been done since the very early age of space flight. Nasa's Mercury astronauts carried dimes in their spacesuits while astronauts on the Apollo missions carried photos and specially stamped envelopes. The Voyager spacecraft have also carried gold discs featuring sounds of Earth along with a range of other information while the Curiosity rover on Mars carried a penny to calibrate its instruments. 
+47 Orion's batteries were charged up using power from the launch pad as, unlike future operational versions, it does not carry solar panels 
+47 Heavy lifting: The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying Orion burned through 450,000 gallons of hydrogen and oxygen fuel in order to produce the two million pounds of thrust needed to lift the 815 ton space rocket out of Earth's atmosphere 
+47 'This is just the first of what will be a long line of exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit,' said Bill Hill, deputy associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development. 'In a few years we will be sending our astronauts to destinations humans have never experienced' | 
No comments:
Post a Comment