Watch: Orion Lifts Off into Space

Update: The Orion Spacecraft has successfully splashed down.

After a no-go on Thursday, Orion lifted off into space bright and early Friday morning from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

Orion is tasked with orbiting the earth twice, reaching a peak altitude of 3,600 miles, before it splashes down into the Pacific Ocean late Friday morning.

The rocket is being tested to eventually carry astronauts on exploratory missions into deep space, the agency’s website said. Hopes for the rocket design include exploration of an asteroid and a possible trip to Mars.

Thursday’s launch was derailed when an issue arose related to fill and drain values, NASA reported. The problem couldn’t be troubleshot in time to beat the launch window’s closing.

Friday’s launch went off without a hitch, however, with liftoff logged at 7:05 a.m.

To keep up with the latest updates on the Orion mission, visit NASA’s blog.

See Also:

• Orion Launch Reset for Friday
• Final Launch, Space Shuttle History