Exploration Flight Test-1

EFT-1 tested various systems of the crew module portion of the Orion spacecraft, including separation events, avionics, heat shielding, parachutes, and recovery operations prior to its flight aboard the Space Launch System rocket on the Artemis I mission. The Orion was not equipped with its companion European Service Module, using only a structural representation, and only had a partial launch abort system containing only the jettison motor. It was equipped with an Orion-to-stage adapter for testing.

The spacecraft remained attached to the dummy service module, which in turn remained attached to the Delta IV's upper stage (which is nearly identical to the Interim Cryogenic Upper Stage to be used on the Block 1 version of the Space Launch System rocket) until re-entry began and relied on internal batteries for power rather than photovoltaic arrays.{{Cite web |date=8 August 2011 |title=OFT-1: NASA gearing up for Orion's 2013 debut via Delta IV Heavy |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/oft-1-nasa-orions-2013-debut-via-delta-iv-heavy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615185234/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/oft-1-nasa-orions-2013-debut-via-delta-iv-heavy/ |archive-date=15 June 2013 |access-date=16 November 2011 }}

Data gathered from the test flight were analyzed by the critical design review (CDR) in April 2015.{{Cite web |date=7 November 2012 |title=EFT-1 September, 2014 launch date "paced" by the Delta IV-H |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/11/eft-1-september-2014-launch-paced-delta-ivh |website=nasaspaceflight.com}} Artemis I launched on 16 November 2022,{{Cite web |title=NASA: Artemis I |url=https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-i/index.html |access-date=2 September 2022 |website=NASA}} more than seven years after EFT-1.

Orion CM-001 used on the EFT-1 mission was built by Lockheed Martin. On 22 June 2012, the final welds of the EFT-1 Orion were completed at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=26 June 2012 |title=Space-bound Orion capsule to arrive in Florida next week |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1206/26orion/ |access-date=28 June 2012 |publisher=SpaceFlightNow}} It was then transported to Kennedy Space Center's Operations and Checkout Building, where the remainder of the spacecraft was completed.{{Cite web |date=2 July 2012 |title=NASA Unveils Orion During Ceremony |url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/orion_arrival.html |access-date=3 July 2012 |publisher=NASA}} The Delta IV rocket was put in a vertical position on 1 October 2014, and Orion was mated with the vehicle on 11 November.[http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/october/nasa-s-orion-spacecraft-rocket-move-closer-to-first-flight/ "NASA’s Orion Spacecraft, Rocket Move Closer to First Flight"] NASA. Retrieved: 5 October 2014.[http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/october/nasa-s-orion-spacecraft-complete-media-invited-to-learn-more-about-its-first/index.html#.VFN0474_ypc "Orion Spacecraft Complete"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031010641/http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/october/nasa-s-orion-spacecraft-complete-media-invited-to-learn-more-about-its-first/index.html#.VFN0474_ypc |date=31 October 2014 }} NASA. Retrieved: 30 October 2014.[http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/november/nasa-s-orion-spacecraft-arrives-at-launch-pad-hoisted-onto-rocket-ahead-of-its/index.html#.VGPgML4_ypc "Orion Arrives at Launch Pad"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022853/http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/november/nasa-s-orion-spacecraft-arrives-at-launch-pad-hoisted-onto-rocket-ahead-of-its/index.html#.VGPgML4_ypc |date=12 November 2020 }} NASA. Retrieved: 12 November 2014.

File:EFT-1 mission diagram.jpg

File:Delta IV Heavy on pad with Orion EFT-1 (KSC-2014-4686).jpg

File:Rendering of Orion Exploration Flight Test 1.jpg

File:Earth from NASA's Orion spacecraft - signpost crop.jpg

The four-and-a-half-hour flight took the Orion spacecraft on two orbits of Earth. Peak altitude was approximately {{convert|3600|mi|km|order=flip}}. The high altitude allowed the spacecraft to reach reentry speeds of up to {{Convert|20000|mph|km/s|abbr=on|order=flip}}, which exposed the heat shield to temperatures up to around {{Convert|4000|F|C|abbr=on|order=flip}}.{{Cite web |title=Orion First Flight Test – NASA Facts |url=http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/fs-2014-08-005-jsc-orion-eft-final.pdf |access-date=10 October 2014 |publisher=NASA}}

After splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, crews from the USS Anchorage recovered the EFT-1 Orion crew vehicle. Plans were later made to outfit the capsule for an ascent abort test in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Stephen Clark |date=23 November 2011 |title=Cracks discovered in Orion capsule's pressure shell |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1211/23eft1cracks/ |access-date=23 November 2011 |publisher=Spaceflightnow.com}}

{{LaunchAttempt

| date1 = 2014-12-04 07:05:00 AM

| result1 = {{partial|Hold}}

| reason1 = Fouled Range

| notes1 = A boat entered the launch range.

| date2 = 2014-12-04 07:17:00 AM

| result2 = {{partial|Hold}}

| reason2 = Weather

| notes2 = Wind gusts in excess of speed limit ({{convert|21|knot|mph kph|abbr=on|disp=or}}).

| date3 = 2014-12-04 07:55:00 AM

| result3 = {{partial|Hold}}

| reason3 = Weather

| notes3 = Wind gusts in excess of speed limit ({{convert|21|knot|mph kph|abbr=on|disp=or}}).

| date4 = 2014-12-04 08:26:00 AM

| result4 = {{partial|Hold}}

| reason4 = Technical

| decision_clock4 = −00:03:09

| notes4 = A fuel fill and drain valve did not close.

| date5 = 2014-12-04 09:44:00 AM

| result5 = {{Included|Scrubbed}}

| reason5 = Technical

| notes5 = 24-hour recycle.

| date6 = 2014-12-05 07:05:00 AM

| result6 = {{yes|Success}}

}}

NASA heavily promoted the mission, collaborating with Sesame Street and its characters to educate children about the flight test and the Orion spacecraft.{{Cite web |last=NASA |date=24 November 2014 |title=Sesame Street Characters 'On Board' as NASA Counts Down to Orion's Test Flight |url=http://www.nasa.gov/content/sesame-street-characters-on-board-with-orion/#.VIN40THF-4k |access-date=6 December 2014 |website=NASA.gov}}

The Orion capsule used for EFT-1 is now on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, in the "NASA Now" exhibit.{{Cite web |title=Orion EFT-1 flown spacecraft joins display in 'NASA Now' exhibit {{!}} collectSPACE |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-041317a-orion-eft1-kennedy-display.html |access-date=21 September 2020 |website=collectSPACE.com}}

File:EFT-1 Orion 2.jpg|First weld on the EFT-1 Orion structure, September 2011

File:Final wield of first space bound Orion.jpg|Orion structure after final weld, June 2012, at the Michoud Assembly Facility

File:EFT-1 Orion SM encapsulated.jpg|Orion's Service Module prior to encapsulation, December 2013, in the Operations and Checkout Building (O&C)

File:EFT-1 Orion Weight and Center of Gravity Test.jpg|EFT-1 Orion Weight and Center of Gravity Test, June 2014

File:EFT-1 Orion back shell tile installation.jpg|EFT-1 Orion back shell tile installation, September 2014

File:Orion's First Crew Module Complete.jpg|Completed EFT-1 Orion, September 2014

File:EFT-1 Orion in fairing and with mock-LAS.jpg|EFT-1 Orion in fairing and with LES, October 2014

File:EFT-1 Orion is ready for first flight.jpg|EFT-1 Orion on its Delta IV Heavy, November 2014

File:Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 crew module before splashdown 2014.JPG|The EFT-1 Orion before splashdown, 5 December 2014

File:EFT-1 Orion recovery.2.jpg|Recovery of the EFT-1 Orion by the USS Anchorage, 5 December 2014

File:EFT-1 Orion recovery.3.jpg|Recovery of Orion capsule

File:EFT-1 Orion recovery.5.jpg|Recovery of Orion capsule

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

{{Commons category|Exploration Flight Test-1}}

• [http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/index.html Orion MPCV homepage (NASA)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527030459/http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/index.html |date=27 May 2011 }}
• [http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/663703main_flighttest1_fs_051812.pdf EFT-1 Fact sheet (NASA)]
• [http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/JSC_OrionEFT-1_PressKit_accessible.pdf EFT-1 Press kit (NASA)]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A3-gsHP4cA Animation of the EFT-1 mission (NASA)]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hn8qnsucwo Video of the launch of EFT-1 – 5 December 2014 (NASA)]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoItSvCBN0U Video of the landing of the EFT-1 Orion – 5 December 2014 (NASA/U.S. Navy)]

{{Orion program}}

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Category:Orion (spacecraft)

Category:Spacecraft launched in 2014

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Category:Test spaceflights

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