As the end of NASA’s Artemis I mission draws near, the Orion spacecraft is on its last full day in space. Splashdown is targeted for 11:39 a.m. CST (12:39 p.m. EST) on Sunday, December 11, off the Baja Coast near Guadalupe Island. Engineers conducted the final Artemis I in-space developmental fli
using opposing thrusters simultaneously to balance the torque and test a variety of firing patterns. Engineers will perform several additional flight test objectives after Orion splashes down in the water and before powering down the spacecraft.
The fifth return trajectory correction burn occurred at 2:32 p.m. CST, Saturday, December 10. During the burn the auxiliary engines fired for 8 seconds, accelerating the spacecraft by 3.4 mph to ensure Orion is on course for splashdown. The sixth and final trajectory correction burn will take place about five hours before Orion enters Earth’s atmosphere.
for the final return trajectory correction burn, spacecraft separation, re-entry through the Earth’s atmosphere, and splashdown. Shortly before the service module separates from the crew module, communication will be switched from NASA’s Deep Space Network to its Near Space Network for the remainder of the mission. Located in geosynchronous orbit about 22,000 miles above Earth, TDRS are used to relay data from spacecraft at lower altitudes to ground antennas.
Artemis All Access – Episode 6 Artemis All Access is your look at the latest in Artemis I, the people and technology behind the mission, and what is coming up next. This uncrewed flight test around the Moon will pave the way for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis. Credit: NASA
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