Orion

The 2026 Excellence in Healthcare Awards will be held on August 12 at the Crowne Plaza to recognize individuals, teams, and organizations improving healthcare in the Capital Region. Sponsors include b1BANK, Orion, Subcontain, Guaranty Health Solutions, Decision Critical, Taylor Porter, Grace Design Studios, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, The Carpenter Health Network, and Gerry Lane Chevrolet.

NASA has announced three uncrewed lunar missions this year to prepare for building a moon base. The first photo from the far side of the Moon was captured by Orion on April 6, showcasing Earth beyond the lunar horizon.

NASA's Artemis III mission is targeted for late 2027 and will test commercial lunar lander technologies in low Earth orbit. The mission will involve multiple spacecraft launches, including Orion, SpaceX's Starship, and Blue Origin's Blue Moon. NASA will demonstrate the docking system and upgraded heat shield.

The charred hull of Artemis 2's Orion space capsule is shown in a photo. The capsule has charred black marks on its bottom and is situated inside a clean room. The image suggests damage from a space mission.

NASA's Artemis II mission was successful, proving the agency's deep space systems are ready for future missions. The Orion spacecraft survived its high-speed return with improved heat shield performance and pinpoint landing accuracy. NASA is now gearing up for Artemis III and future Moon missions.

The Artemis 2 Orion heat shield was discovered underwater, appearing in varying shades of dark blue. The finding highlights the spacecraft's components in a submerged environment.

NASA's Artemis II mission confirmed the Orion heat shield's effectiveness during re-entry, ensuring crew safety and validating the agency's design choices. Initial findings align with pre-mission assessments, boding well for future lunar missions.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will testify before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee on President Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget request, following NASA’s completion of its first crewed moon mission in 50 years. The Artemis II mission concluded with the Orion spacecraft splashing down off the coast of San Diego.

NASA addressed concerns about a missing patch on the Artemis II capsule Orion's heat shield after social media users noticed the issue. The agency confirmed no unexpected conditions were observed during the mission, assuring public safety.

Orion's crew module has separated from its service module after the Artemis II mission. The service module provided propulsion and steering during the lunar journey. NBC News' Tom Costello provides context on the event.