NASA's Orion capsule begins its 3,600-mile journey into outer space

21 Dec 2014 • engadget.com

The vehicle’s fitted with sensors that can tell the ground crew if the radiation belt can interfere with its onboard controls. After that, the reentry process begins. To pass this “trial by fire,” the capsule’s heat shields will need to survive hurtling through the Earth’s atmosphere at speeds reaching 20,000mph. Its parachute system, which has been tested before, will have to slow it down from breakneck speeds to a full stop within 11 minutes. Finally, if it lands safely (and we, of course, hope it does), the Navy will get to test out a new ocean recovery method.

We’re so lucky this stuff works at all. Anyone who can read that and not be completely and utterly amazed must just not really be thinking about it.