NASA capsule buzzes moon, last big step before lunar orbit

Image credit Nasa

NASA's Orion spacecraft successfully landed on the moon after flying around the far side and approaching the surface by 80 miles. 

Image credit Nasa

The crew capsule and its three test dummies were placed on the opposite side of the moon from where the close approach occurred on Monday.

Image credit Nasa

The flight controllers in Houston couldn't communicate with the capsule while it was behind the moon,

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 so they didn't know if the critical engine firing had worked until the capsule emerged from behind the moon. 

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This is the first mission to the moon since the Apollo programme concluded 50 years ago.

Image credit Nasa

 On Wednesday of this week, the Orion spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a three-week journey..

Image credit Nasa

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