Alex gives you a play-by-play of the successful test flight of the Orion service module. Rapidly going through the highlights for today's incredible accomplishment, Alex goes through each major step, explaining different aspects of the mission as well.

Alex also shows you how to 'properly' react to this historic event, not only as an American, but as a human being.

Launch video of Orion (12/05/14)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hn8qnsucwo

Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Topics on today's Episode:

Orion, NASA, Test Flight, America, Lockheed Martin, Delta IV Heavy Rocket, Heat Shield, Van Allen Belt, Radiation, Re-entry, the US Navy, Plasma, Communication Black out, Drogues, Main Parachutes, supersonic, Statute Miles (3,604.2 miles), 20,000 MPH vs. 88 MPH, 1st stage, second stage, RL-10B Engine, Max Q, Launch Abort System.

SPACE LINKS:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_17
• https://blogs.nasa.gov/orion/
• http://www.space.com/13566-photos-nasa-orion-space-capsule-test-flight.html?cmpid=514648
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDYK_qW6qHE via @BadAstronomer