Flight

2022 - 12 - 12

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Reuters"

NASA's Orion capsule returns to Earth, capping Artemis I flight ... (Reuters)

Orion winds up the inaugural mission of the Artemis program 50 years after Apollo's final moon landing.

By coincidence, the return to Earth of Artemis I unfolded on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 17 moon landing of Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt on Dec. [(BA.N)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/BA.N) SLS and the first combined with Orion, which previously flew a brief two-orbit test launched on a smaller Delta IV rocket in 2014. They were the last of 12 NASA astronauts to walk on the moon during a total of six Apollo missions starting in 1969. PST (1740 GMT) off Mexico's Baja California peninsula, demonstrating a high-stakes homecoming before NASA flies its first crew of Artemis astronauts around the moon in the next few years. Atmospheric friction slowed the capsule from 24,500 miles per hour (39,400 kph) to 325 mph, followed by two sets of parachutes that helped brake its speed to an expected 20 mph at splashdown. "It is our priority-one objective," Sarafin said at a briefing last week. Mission engineers will spend months examining data from the Artemis I mission. The capsule blasted off on Nov. agency's new Artemis lunar program 50 years to the day after Apollo's final moon landing. Naval vessel for a trip to San Diego, California. A crewed Artemis II flight around the moon and back could come as early as 2024, followed within a few more years by the program's first lunar landing of astronauts, one of them a woman, with Artemis III. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story

Post cover
Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Nasa's Orion capsule blazes home from test flight to moon (New Zealand Herald)

A Navy ship quickly moved in to recover the spacecraft and its silent occupants - three test dummies rigged with vibration sensors and radiation monitors. Nasa ...

To reduce the gravity or G loads, it dipped into the atmosphere and briefly skipped out, also helping to pinpoint the splashdown area. In an Apollo throwback, Nasa held a splashdown party at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, with employees and their families gathering to watch the broadcast of Orion’s homecoming. While no one was on the $4 billion test flight, Nasa managers were thrilled to pull off the dress rehearsal, especially after so many years of flight delays and busted budgets. It was the first flight of Nasa’s new Artemis moon programme, named after Apollo’s mythological twin sister. They were the last of the 12 moonwalkers. A Navy ship quickly moved in to recover the spacecraft and its silent occupants - three test dummies rigged with vibration sensors and radiation monitors.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "1 News"

NASA's Orion capsule splashes down from test flight to moon (1 News)

NASA's Orion capsule made a blisteringly fast return from the moon this morning, parachuting into the Pacific off Mexico to conclude a test flight that ...

In an Apollo throwback, NASA held a splashdown party at Houston's Johnson Space Center, with employees and their families gathering to watch the broadcast of Orion's homecoming. "So this is the exploration that so many of us have been dreaming about." "No one's been to the moon in my lifetime, right?" It was the first flight of NASA's new Artemis moon program, named after Apollo's mythological twin sister. They were the last of the 12 moonwalkers. Astronauts last landed on the moon 50 years ago.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Travel couple reveals strange item they swear by for flights (New Zealand Herald)

Plane seats, especially on long-haul flights, can become pretty messy over the course of a few hours, with snack wrappers, empty cups, water bottles and other ...

For those concerned about the additional plastic, many brands are made with biodegradable plastic too. [exceeded the luggage weight](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/viral-hollow-pillow-travel-hack-backfires-after-tiktok-fail/HVGPWGYGGECWWCBX45COIA6CQU/). [common mistakes people make in Europe ](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/europe-travel-travellers-share-six-mistakes-to-avoid-in-funny-tiktok/DDDE4T54TJOC2WZQD6QUKH6624/)to [mocking travellers returning on holiday](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/tiktok-comedian-goes-viral-with-hilarious-videos-mocking-travellers/5V6HVAADRRBTTPWCCNK6GKN5CU/), videos have amassed millions of views. [Terms of Use](https://www.nzme.co.nz/about-us/terms-conditions)and [Privacy Policy.](https://www.nzme.co.nz/about-us/privacy-policy/) In the video, Amanda unravels the little bag and ties it to a tray table to create a hands-free and easy place to store any trash that accumulates during the flight. [@bdfagan](https://www.tiktok.com/@bdfagan?lang=en)) shared their clean-seat-hack on TikTok, showing how they use a dog poo bag on flgiths, creating a little rubbish bin between their seats.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Simple Flying"

24 Years Ago Today Thai Airways Flight 261 Became Thailand's ... (Simple Flying)

Today marks 24 years since the crash of Thai Airways flight 261 near Surat Thani, Thailand. Operated by an Airbus A310, the service never reached its ...

[Airbus](https://simpleflying.com/tag/airbus/) A310-200 which bore the registration HS-TIA. [Kambui via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thai_Airways_International_Airbus_A310-204_HS-TIC_%22Ratchaburi%22_(25902524994).jpg) An investigation found that the crew consistently flew to the left of the planned approach path into Surat Thani on every landing attempt, with spatial disorientation having played a role. [Thai Airways](https://simpleflying.com/tag/thai-airways/) flight 261 was a scheduled flight that originated at Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok. Amid deteriorating weather conditions, the flight was cleared to land at 18:41, but made a missed approach a minute later. The Thai flag carrier no longer serves this facility, which has primarily been a low-cost hub since the opening of Bangkok's [Suvarnabhumi Airport](https://simpleflying.com/tag/bangkok-suvarnabhumi-airport/) (BKK) in September 2006.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Newshub"

NASA's Orion capsule splashes down after Artemis I flight around ... (Newshub)

The Artemis I mission — a 25½-day uncrewed test flight around the moon meant to pave the way for future astronaut missions — came to an momentous end as ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Stuff.co.nz"

Travel etiquette: Should you take your shoes off on a flight? (Stuff.co.nz)

Some passengers prefer to be footloose and fancy-free, but barefoot travellers often evoke outrage. So what's a conscientious flier to do?

As I see it, the best thing to do is to follow the rules and keep your footwear on while boarding and disembarking, and to respect your fellow passengers by only taking it off only if you’re sure neither it nor your feet will raise a stink. Ideally, airlines would take a cue from the Japanese and leave slippers near the door to be used in the toilet only, reducing the likelihood of passengers traipsing germs through the cabin. And if you need to get up for any reason, put your shoes back on. Given feet aren’t always the most aesthetically pleasing of things it may be best to keep your socks on. It’s best to bear in mind that the liquid on the floor may or may not be water. It’s 23 degrees Celsius as I type, and my feet are sweltering after a quick walk around the block, so removing my shoes and socks under these circumstances would be unforgivable. I’m not wanting to point fingers at any gender here, but I’d imagine one’s aim could be compromised if there are bumps in the flight. And as bathrooms are so small, it’s easy for germs to spread. On short flights, I rarely feel the need to de-shoe, but on long-haul flights it’s another story. In fact, some airlines actively encourage passengers to remove their shoes by providing socks to wear. Interestingly, three-quarters of Italians, who come from the land of Prada pumps and Gucci loafers, thought removing shoes unacceptable. In New Zealand, as in many other countries, aircraft cleaning isn’t regulated, so airlines set their own standards and protocols.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NASA Blogs"

Artemis I – Flight Day 26: Orion splashes down, concluding historic ... (NASA Blogs)

Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett NASA's Orion spacecraft successfully completed a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 9:40 PST, 12:40 EST as the ...

When Orion is ready to be pulled into the ship’s well deck at the waterline, the divers will attach a cable, called the winch line, to pull the spacecraft into the ship and up to four additional tending lines to attach points on the crew module. Once Orion is positioned above the cradle assembly, technicians will drain the well deck and secure it on the cradle. [successfully](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/splashdown-nasa-s-orion-returns-to-earth-after-historic-moon-mission)completed a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 9:40 PST, 12:40 EST as the final major milestone of the Artemis I mission.

Explore the last week