Orion Coming to San Diego Today

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An MH-60 helicopter flies over the Orion as recovery teams move in to retrieve the spacecraft.

Orion is expected to be off-loaded from the USS Anchorage today at Naval Base San Diego today following its recovery Friday after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The spacecraft is nestled inside the well deck of the amphibious ship during the trek from its splashdown point about 600 miles southwest of San Diego.

The spacecraft then will be transported to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where engineers will gather more information about Orion’s performance.

Orion’s flight tested many of the systems most critical to crew safety, including key separation events, parachutes and its heat shield. During Orion’s re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft endured speeds of 20,000 mph and temperatures near 4,000 degrees F.

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The Orion floats in the Pacific with stabilizing balloons inflated as the USS Anchorage moves int to retrieve the spacecraft.
The Orion spacecraft is guided into the well deck of the USS Anchorage during recovery operations following splashdown. Photo credit: NASA
The Orion spacecraft is guided into the well deck of the USS Anchorage during recovery operations following splashdown.

5 thoughts on “Orion Coming to San Diego Today”

  1. Awesome Job guys!!! Everyone at NASA should be proud of this achievement. Hope to see many more missions with Orion!!!!

  2. Will NASA publish the route and schedule of the return trip? It would be cool to view and photograph it as is passes by.

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