NASA’s Orion spacecraft has re-entered the area of the moon’s gravity, called the lunar sphere of influence, on its way back to Earth.
NASA’s Orion spacecraft has re-entered the area of the moon’s gravity, called the lunar sphere of influence, on its way back to Earth. The spacecraft is currently traveling on the Artemis I mission around the moon, and this milestone marks a significant point on its return journey as the moon becomes the primary gravitational force acting on the spacecraft.
Orion entered the lunar sphere of influence at 5:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 3, when the spacecraft was located just under 40,000 miles from the moon’s surface.
