After orbiting the Earth twice and climbing 15 times higher than the orbit of the International Space Station, NASA’s new spacecraft, Orion, today completed its maiden voyage and returned safely to Earth.

After lifting off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:05 a.m. ET, the uncrewed Orion splashed down right on target in the Pacific Ocean, almost four and a half hours later. At mid-day, a recovery team made up of members of the U.S. Navy, NASA and Lockheed Martin was in the process of securing and retrieving the spacecraft.

“America has driven a golden spike as it crosses a bridge into the future,” said a NASA announcer, moments after Orion made what he called a “bulls-eye” splashdown for America’s newest spacecraft. “This was a perfect mission.”

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