NASA's 1st Orion Spacecraft Test Flight in Photos

By SPACE.com Staff | December 6, 2011 06:51am ET

Orion Recovery

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean following its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. The U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage assisted in retrieving the capsule.

Orion Capsule with Ship

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean following its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. The U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage assisted in retrieving the capsule.

Orion Capsule with Helicopter

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean following its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. The U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage assisted in retrieving the capsule.

Zodiac Boat and Orion Capsule

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean following its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. The U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage assisted in retrieving the capsule.

Inflatable Boats Approach Orion Capsule

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean following its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. The U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage assisted in retrieving the capsule.

USS Anchorage Approaches Orion Capsule

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean following its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. The U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage assisted in retrieving the capsule.

Orion on the Well Deck of USS Anchorage

NASA's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean following its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. The U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage assisted in retrieving the capsule.

Orion on the Well Deck of USS Anchorage #2

The U.S. Navy pulled NASA’s Orion spacecraft into the well deck of the USS Anchorage, following splashdown of the experimental capsule in the Pacific Ocean, following its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014.

Orion on the Well Deck of USS Anchorage #3

Liftoff! Orion Soars Into Space

On Dec. 5, 2014, NASA's first Orion spacecraft launched on an unmanned test flight to usher in a new era of deep-space exploration. Here, a Delta 4 Heavy rocket blasts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to begin the mission.

See more photos of Orion's 1st test flight in this Space.com gallery. [Read full story.]

United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Launches Orion #1

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion spacecraft for Lockheed Martin successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, Dec. 5, 2014. [Read full story.]

United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Launches Orion #2

United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Launches Orion #3

United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Launches Orion #4

Spectators at Orion Launch

Spectators thronged the NASA Causeway connecting NASA's Kennedy Space Center with Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to view the launch of the Orion Flight Test on Dec. 5, 2014. [Read full story.]

Orion Capsule Post-Splashdown

Orion capsule sits in the Pacific Ocean following splashdown, the conculsion of its first uncrewed test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. [Read full story.]

Orion Capsule Floats in the Pacific Ocean

NASA's next-generation spacecraft, the Orion capsule, ended its first uncrewed test flight (EFT-1) on Dec. 5, 2014, in the Pacific Ocean. [Read full story.]

Orion Capsule with Three Main Chutes Deployed

NASA Aeronautics tweeted this photo on Dec. 5, 2014, following the successful re-entry of Orion spacecraft, writing: "#Ikhana coverage of #Orion shows great use for UAVs; this is part of our work. #Flynasa." [Read full story.]

Orion's Main Chutes

NASA's next-generation spacecraft, the Orion capsule, ended its first uncrewed test flight (EFT-1) on Dec. 5, 2014, in the Pacific Ocean. [Read full story.]

Orion's Main Chutes #2

NASA's next-generation spacecraft, the Orion capsule, ended its first uncrewed test flight (EFT-1) on Dec. 5, 2014, in the Pacific Ocean. [Read full story.]

Orion Spacecraft with Main Chutes Deployed

NASA's next-generation spacecraft, the Orion capsule, ended its first uncrewed test flight (EFT-1) on Dec. 5, 2014, in the Pacific Ocean. [Read full story.]

Orion Returns to Earth

NASA's Orion spacecraft descended toward the Pacific Ocean under three main parachutes on Dec. 5, 2014, as seen by an unpiloted aircraft. [Read full story.]

Orion's View of Earth Before Splashdown

NASA's next-generation spacecraft, the Orion capsule, sees Earth before ending its first uncrewed test flight (EFT-1) on Dec. 5, 2014, in the Pacific Ocean. [Read full story.]

Gulf of Mexico Seen by Orion

arth's limb shines in an image sent by NASA's Orion spacecraft after it passes over the Gulf of Mexico on its first uncrewed test flight, Dec. 5, 2014. [Read full story.]

Orion Service Panels Separation

Orion capsule's service panels separate and fall back to Earth after launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Dec. 5, 2014. [Read full story.]

Earth's Limb as Seen by Orion

Earth's limb is seen by Orion capsule as it flies over the Earth after launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Dec. 5, 2014. [Read full story.]

Orion Exploration Flight Test

A Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at at 7:05 a.m. EST, Dec. 5, 2014, in Florida. Launch was postponed one day because of technical glitches and weather. [Read full story.]

Orion Launch with Spectators

A Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at at 7:05 a.m. EST, Dec. 5, 2014, in Florida. [Read full story.]

Orion Exploration Flight Test #2

A Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at at 7:05 a.m. EST, Dec. 5, 2014, in Florida. [Read full story.]

Orion Launches on EFT-1 Mission #3

NASA's Orion capsule launched on its first uncrewed test flight (EFT-1 mission) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Dec. 5, 2014. [Read full story.]

Orion Exploration Flight Test

A Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at at 7:05 a.m. EST, Dec. 5, 2014, in Florida. [Read full story.]

Orion Launch by Guillemette #3

hotographer Roger Guillemette took this photo of the launch of Orion spacecraft on Dec. 5, 2014, from a vantage point on the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building, 525 feet (160 m.) above the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. [Read full story.]

Orion Launch by Guillemette #2

Photographer Roger Guillemette took this photo of the launch of Orion spacecraft on Dec. 5, 2014, from a vantage point on the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building, 525 feet (160 m.) above the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. [Read full story.]

Orion Launch by Guillemette #1

Bolden Watches Orion Launch

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and his wife Jackie Bolden watch as the Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force at 7:05 a.m. EST, Dec. 5, 2014, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. [Read full story.]

Delta 4 Heavy and Orion on the Pad

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket stands ready to launch NASA's first Orion deep-space capsule on its debut test flight in this view taken from a helicopter flying over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 4, 2014. The rocket is slated to launch on Dec. 5 after delays prevented a Dec. 4 liftoff.

Orion, Delta IV Heavy at SLC-37

At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, a Delta IV Heavy rocket was prepared to launch of NASA's Orion spacecraft on Dec. 4, 2014, but delays prevented the liftoff.

Orion in Launch Hold

A number of delays prevented the Orion capsule from launching as scheduled from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Dec. 4, 2014.

Orion on the Launch Pad

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion spacecraft stands on the launch pad after the Mobile Service Tower finished rolling back early on Dec. 4, 2014, at Cape Canaveral Air Force, Florida.

Sunrise Over Orion

The United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket housing the Orion space capsule sits on the launch pad in Florida on Dec. 4, 2014.

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: Splashdown

Three main parachutes will slow NASA's Orion spacecraft for the final splashdown at the end of the Exploration Flight Test 1, an unmanned demonstration flight to test critical in-flight and re-entry systems.

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: Descent

Drogue parachutes deploy to slow NASA's Orion space capsule down after re-entry in this still from an animation of the unmanned Exploration Test Flight 1 demonstration flight.

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: Re-entry

NASA's Orion space capsule streaks through Earth's atmosphere in this NASA animation still from a video depiction of the Exploration Flight Test 1. The unmanned test flight will send an unmanned Orion capsule plunging toward Earth at about 20,000 mph, about 84 percent of the speed experienced during NASA's returning Apollo moon ships.

Orion Spacecraft’s Exploration Mission-1

As part of a new agreement between the two space agencies, the European Space Agency will provide the service module for NASA’s Orion spacecraft. Image taken from a video released Jan. 16, 2013.

Orion Service Module by the ESA

When the Orion spacecraft blasts off atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017, attached will be the ESA-provided service module – the powerhouse that fuels and propels the Orion spacecraft. Image from video animation released Jan. 16, 2013.

ESA's New Orion Service Module Engine Burn

Exploration Mission-1 will be the first integrated flight test with both the Orion spacecraft and NASA’s new Space Launch System. Image from animation video released Jan. 16, 2013.

NASA's Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: Liftoff

A heavy-lift rocket carrying NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle launches on the Exploration Test Flight 1 in this still from a NASA video. The test flight, targeted for 2014, would test vital Orion systems and re-entry techniques for deep space missions to an asteroid or elsewhere.

NASA's Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: Separation

The Orion spacecraft separates from its booster in this NASA animation still for the Exploration Test Flight 1, a 2014 fligth demonstration to test Orion systems and re-entry capabilities for future deep space flights. NASA's Orion capsule will be the agency's go-to vehicle to send astronauts on deep space voyages to an asteroid.

Exploration Flight Test 1: Farewell Fairing

This NASA still from a depiction of the Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 shows protective panels separating from the Orion spacecraft during its trip to orbit.

Exploration Flight Test 1: Ascent

NASA's first Orion space capsule ascends into orbit in this still from a NASA animation depicting the unmanned Exploration Flight Test 1 mission to test spacecraft systems and re-entry capabilities.

Exploration Flight Test-1

This NASA animation still shows the Orion capsule separating from its rocket during the Exploration Flight Test-1, an unmanned flight demonstration targeted for 2014 to test the Orion vehicle and re-entry systems.

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: Orbit

NASA's first Orion space capsule orbits the Earth in this still from a NASA animation depicting the unmanned Exploration Flight Test 1 mission to test spacecraft systems and re-entry capabilities.

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: Moon View

The moon appears behind NASA's first Orion space capsule in this view from a NASA animation depicting the unmanned Exploration Flight Test 1 mission to check out critical re-entry and flight systems.

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: The View

This still from a NASA video shows the view of Earth outside the Orion space capsule's window during its two-orbit Exploration Flight Test 1, an unmanned demonstration flight to test critical flight and re-entry systems.

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1: Orbital Path

NASA's Orion spacecraft would fly up to 5,000 miles above Earth at its highest point during the two-orbit Exploration Flight Test 1 mission, a robotic fligth to check out Orion flight and re-entry systems.

NASA's Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle in Testing

The Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle being assembled and tested at Lockheed Martin's Vertical Testing Facility in Colorado

Construction Begins on Flight Version Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicles

Construction on the first space-bound Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Module began with the first weld at the Michoud Assembly Facility on Sept. 9. 2011. This capsule will be used during Orion's first test flight in space.

Booster Cores for Delta 4 Heavy Rocket

The three first-stage booster cores for United Launch Alliance's Delta 4 Heavy rocket are seen here inside the Horizontal Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on May 7, 2014. The Delta 4 Heavy will launch NASA's Orion capsule on its first test flight in December 2014.

Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Coming Together for EFT-1

A United Launch Alliance technician monitors progress as core booster elements of a Delta IV Heavy rocket are being integrated in preparation for Exploration Flight Test-1, which is due to launch in December 2014.

Two Stages of Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Mated for EFT-1

The two stages of the Delta 4 Heavy rocket that will launch NASA's Orion capsule on its first test flight come together inside the Horizontal Integration Facility at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in September 2014.

Two Stages of Delta 4 Heavy Rocket Mated for EFT-1

Credit: NASA/Daniel Casper