While there are no human crew members aboard, there are other pieces that give engineers an opportunity to test the Orion spacecraft and how it deals with the harsh environment of deep space...all performed so astronauts, when they fly to the Moon, will be best prepared. The cabin is filled with biology experiments and even voice-activated technology - even though the craft is 720,000 miles from earth. There are also some sentimental and fun items placed there --- including tributes to colleagues, mentions of Apollo history, and even puzzles with a hidden meanings.
Orion is set to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean tomorrow.
photo:getty
Orion's close up pictures of moon craters. November, 2022. Courtesy NASA.Photo: NASA