Planet Earth from Orion
Explanation:
A
Space Launch System rocket left planet Earth
on Wednesday, November 16 at 1:47am EST carrying the Orion spacecraft on the
Artemis 1 mission, the first integrated test of NASAБs deep space
exploration systems.
Over an hour after
liftoff
from
Kennedy Space Center's
historic
Launch Complex 39B,
one of Orion's
external
video cameras
captured this view of its new perspective
from space.
In the foreground are Orion's Orbital Maneuvering System engine
and auxillary engines,
at the bottom of the European Service Module.
Beyond one of the module's 7-meter long extended solar array wings
lies the spacecraft's
beautiful home world.
The Artemis 1 mission
will last almost four weeks,
testing capabilities to enable human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
The uncrewed Orion spacecraft is
expected to fly by the
Moon
on November 21, performing a close approach to the
lunar surface on its way to a
retrograde orbit 70,000 kilometers beyond the Moon.бб
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
