NASA’s Orion capsule splashed down into the Pacific Ocean at around 12:40PM ET. | Screenshot: Emma Roth / The Verge
NASA’s Orion spacecraft has returned to Earth. The uncrewed capsule safely splashed down into the Pacific Ocean off of Mexico’s Baja California around 12:40PM ET on Sunday, marking the end of the landmark Artemis I mission.
After a 1.4 million-mile journey through space, the capsule splashed down in an upright position without any major hiccups. It reached speeds of about 24,500mph as it returned to Earth, while its heat shield sustained scorching temperatures of around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
As it reentered Earth’s atmosphere, the Orion capsu...
