CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -It has 50% more volume than the Apollo capsule and will carry four to six astronauts. After extensive study, NASA selected the Avcoat ablator system to provide heat protection encountered during reentry for the Orion crew module.

Detailed explanation-2: -NASA’s Orion capsule splashed down safely off the coast of Mexico on 11 December, bringing a close to the first test flight of a new spaceship designed to carry people back to the Moon.

Detailed explanation-3: -NASA’s Orion spacecraft has returned to Earth after completing the US space agency’s Artemis 1 moon mission. The uncrewed capsule splashed down into the Pacific Ocean off of Mexico’s Baja California around 12:40 PM ET (11:10 pm IST) on Sunday (December 11) after completing a 25.5-day journey.

Detailed explanation-4: -“With splashdown we have successfully operated Orion in the deep space environment, where it exceeded our expectations, and demonstrated that Orion can withstand the extreme conditions of returning through Earth’s atmosphere from lunar velocities.” Recovery teams are now working to secure Orion for the journey home.

Detailed explanation-5: -Orion will fly about 62 miles (100 km) above the surface of the Moon, and then use the Moon’s gravitational force to propel Orion into a new deep retrograde, or opposite, orbit about 40,000 miles (70,000 km) from the Moon.