NASA's Orion spacecraft made a successful parachute splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on December 11 at 9:40 a.m.
Photo: NASA
At the direction of NASA's Director of RescueNavy divers and other mission team members approached the spacecraft in several inflatable boats. A winch was secured around Orion to pull it into a specially designed cradle inside the ship's well. Other cables controlled the movement of the space capsule.
Photo: NASA
A special group will deliver the spacecraftto the US Naval Base in San Diego, after which it will remain at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for inspection. There it will undergo a technical inspection, experts will extract the data recorded on board, and then retrieve the on-board payload.
Photo: NASA
Orion is expected to arrive ashore on December 13th and unloading will begin on December 15th.
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Cover photo: NASA