March 29, 2024

NASA Artemis I – Flight Day 24: Orion Spacecraft Heads Home

The engines on Orions service module are prominently featured in this image from flight day 22 of the Artemis I mission. Orions range from the Moon continues to increase on flight day 24 of the Artemis I mission as it heads back to Earth and a splashdown at 12:40 p.m. Sunday, December 11. In addition to the sensors on the manikin and seat, Campos is using a first-generation Orion Crew Survival System pressure match– a spacesuit astronauts will wear throughout launch, entry, and other dynamic phases of their objectives. Even though its mostly created for launch and reentry, the Orion fit can keep astronauts alive if Orion were to lose cabin pressure during the journey out to the Moon, while adjusting orbits in Gateway, or on the method back house. Splashdown is set up at 12:39 p.m., and coverage will continue through Orions handover from Mission Control in Houston to Exploration Ground Systems recovery groups in the Pacific Ocean.

NASA and DoD members of the Artemis I healing team run practice flight operations procedures aboard the USS Portland (LPD 27). The team is out at sea ahead of the December 11 Orion splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA
On Flight Day 24 of the Artemis I mission, NASA teams in Mission Control Houston performed spacecraft system checks ahead of Orions planned splashdown on December 11. The Exploration Ground Systems recovery group made its way toward the landing location off Mexicos Baja Coast near Guadalupe Island in the Pacific Ocean.
As prepared, flight controllers triggered the crew module reaction control system heating system and carried out a hot-fire test for each thruster. The 5 pulses for each thruster lasted 75 milliseconds each, and were carried out in opposing sets to minimize attitude modifications throughout the test. Thrust for the crew module propulsion system is generated from 12 monopropellant MR-104G engines. These engines are a variant of MR-104 thrusters, which have been used in other NASA spacecraft, including the interplanetary Voyagers 1 and 2.
The engines on Orions service module are prominently included in this image from flight day 22 of the Artemis I objective. The biggest is the orbital maneuvering system engine, surrounded by eight smaller auxiliary thrusters. Credit: NASA
So far, approximately 12,100 pounds of propellant have actually been utilized, which is around 240 pounds less than was approximated prelaunch. This leaves a margin of 2,230 pounds over what is prepared for usage, 324 pounds more than prelaunch expectations.

On its method back to Earth, Orion will travel through a duration of intense radiation as it travels through the Van Allen Belts which contain area radiation trapped around Earth by the planets magnetosphere. Outside the defense of Earths magnetic field, the deep area radiation environment includes energetic particles produced by the Sun during solar flares as well as particles from cosmic rays that come from outside the galaxy.
Orion was developed from the start to ensure the dependability of vital spacecraft systems throughout prospective radiation events and can become a makeshift storm shelter when team members utilize protecting materials to form a barrier against solar energetic particles.
Orions range from the Moon continues to increase on flight day 24 of the Artemis I objective as it heads back to Earth and a splashdown at 12:40 p.m. Sunday, December 11. When this image was taken using a camera mounted on among Orions 4 solar varieties, the spacecraft was over 200,000 miles far from our lunar next-door neighbor. Credit: NASA
For the uncrewed Artemis I mission, Orion is bring several instruments and experiments to better understand the environment future teams will experience and offer important info for engineers developing extra protective procedures. There are active sensors linked to power that can send out readings to Earth throughout the flight, along with passive detectors that require no source of power to gather radiation dosage details that will be evaluated after the flight.
Leader Moonikin Campos is geared up with 2 radiation sensing units, along with a sensing unit under the headrest and another behind the seat to record velocity and vibration throughout the mission. The seat is positioned in a recumbent, or laid-back, position with raised feet, which will help maintain blood circulation to the head for crew members on future objectives during climb and entry. The position likewise reduces the chance of injury by enabling the head and feet to be held safely during launch and landing, and by dispersing forces across the entire upper body throughout high acceleration and deceleration periods, such as splashdown.
A crew is expected to experience two-and-a-half times the force of gravity during climb and four times the force of gravity at two different points during the prepared reentry profile. Engineers will compare Artemis I flight information with previous ground-based vibration tests with the exact same manikin, and human topics, to associate performance prior to Artemis II.
In addition to the sensors on the manikin and seat, Campos is using a first-generation Orion Crew Survival System pressure suit– a spacesuit astronauts will use throughout launch, entry, and other dynamic stages of their missions. Even though its primarily created for launch and reentry, the Orion match can keep astronauts alive if Orion were to lose cabin pressure throughout the journey out to the Moon, while changing orbits in Gateway, or on the method back house.
Quickly prior to 2:30 p.m. CST on December 9, Orion was traveling 171,500 miles (276,000 km) from Earth and 214,200 miles (344,700 km) from the Moon, cruising at 2,100 mph (3,400 km/h).
Artemis All Access– Episode 6 Artemis All Access is your look at the current in Artemis I, the people and innovation behind the objective, and what is turning up next. This uncrewed flight test around the Moon will pave the method for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis. Credit: NASA
Watch the newest episode of Artemis All Access (video embedded above) for a glance at the most recent mission status and a within look ahead of splashdown.
Live splashdown protection will begin at 11 a.m. EST on Sunday, December 11. Splashdown is scheduled at 12:39 p.m., and coverage will continue through Orions handover from Mission Control in Houston to Exploration Ground Systems healing groups in the Pacific Ocean. Protection will be live on NASA TELEVISION, the agencys website, and the NASA app.