Orion was launched on November 16, after years of preparation. The craft should take people to the moon and back again in a few years. To test all systems, it now went around the moon without a crew. Just over a week ago it started its flight back. According to the American space agency NASA, the spacecraft is doing better than expected.
The vessel consists of two parts. In the front is the American part where the crew will later be seated.
In the back, in the European part, are the drive and the Dutch solar panels that generate electricity. On Sunday, just before reentry into the atmosphere, they separate. The European part burns up in the atmosphere, the American part has to slow down and finally plunge gently into the sea hanging on parachutes. That happens in the Pacific Ocean west of Mexico. The ‘splashdown’ is scheduled for 6:39 PM Dutch time. A naval ship then hoists it out of the water and brings it ashore.
At the Cape Canaveral space base, another craft is ready for launch Sunday. The Japanese company ispace wants to put a lander on the moon in a controlled manner next year. So far only the United States, the Soviet Union/Russia and China have managed to do this. The launch is scheduled for 8:38 a.m. Belgian time. The takeoff had been delayed a few times in recent times because more checks on the rocket were needed.