NASA's 1st Orion Spacecraft Test Flight in Photos

Orion Returns to Earth

NASA (via Flickr as NASA Orion Spacecraft)

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 TV

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

NASA TV

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

NASA TV

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

NASA TV

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

NASA/Bill Ingalls

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

NASA/Bill Ingalls

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

(NASA/Bill Ingalls

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 TV

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

NASA/Bill Ingalls

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.]

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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.