Overview
- The Orion capsule is slated to splash down Friday in the Pacific off San Diego, far offshore and out of view from beaches.
- Forecasts show 3 to 5 foot waves and light winds in the target area, which fit within NASA’s recovery limits.
- NASA’s safety rules bar rain or thunderstorms within about 35 miles and require wave heights below six feet for recovery to proceed.
- The agency plans to lock the exact time and splashdown zone on Thursday while it tracks an approaching Pacific storm.
- Navy sea teams will recover the crew and capsule after parachutes slow Orion to about 17 mph for ocean touchdown.