Comments on: Orion completes short 15-second burn to refine its return-to-Earth https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/orion-completes-short-15-second-burn-to-refine-its-return-to-earth/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:32:46 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Blair Ivey https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/orion-completes-short-15-second-burn-to-refine-its-return-to-earth/#comment-1630548 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:32:46 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=122913#comment-1630548 It looks like the brought the Earth with them. I suppose an artifact of the imaging system, and a much longer effective focal length: Earth from Lunar-orbit on Apollo appears to be about half the angular diameter.

Similar images of Earth from Apollo 17, and Artemis 2.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWvgFuQDjIH/

Hey, Arabic numerals were good enough to be NASA-spec for Apollo. It may be that NASA thought non-Super Bowl numerals would sound too much like a movie sequel (well, actually . . ). I’d wager if you asked twenty people if they’d seen Artemis 2, half would say yes, and some would name the leading actors.

]]> By: Concerned https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/orion-completes-short-15-second-burn-to-refine-its-return-to-earth/#comment-1630547 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:26:58 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=122913#comment-1630547 Having watched all the Apollo missions as an awestruck kid, I thought I’d be more excited about this flight.
Sorry to say I’ve been somewhat underwhelmed.
Probably because it has taken .so. dang. long. and so many billions of dollars to get to this point. The Orion contract was given to Lockheed Martin 20 years ago— 20 YEARS!! That was about the same time it took us to first break the sound barrier and walk on the moon.
Arty 2 really kinda felt more like the Japanese billionaire’s aborted “Dear Moon” joyride program.
All that said, I’m optimistic about Isaacman’s political maneuvering to free us from this SLS/Orion anchor and start moving. Seeing the SpaceX HLS tested (hopefully) next year in LEO will be far more exciting.

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