Orion Flight Test (OFT)

The Orion Flight Test (OFT) is a key mission to evaluate the performance and safety of NASA's Orion spacecraft, designed for future deep-space exploration. During the test, Orion is launched atop a rocket, simulating a real space journey, then re-enters Earth's atmosphere to test its heat shielding, navigation, and communication systems. The goal is to ensure that Orion can safely carry astronauts to destinations like the Moon or Mars and return them safely to Earth. This test helps identify and fix any issues before crewed missions, advancing human space exploration capabilities.