The Obscure Parts of the Orion Spacecraft You Have Never Heard Of…

This is a picture of the Orion Spacecraft, which what the Artemis II mission used to send humans out.

The Orion Spacecraft is an intriguing and captivating capsule, which took many people, including Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.

The Orion Spacecraft has many parts, systems, and modules that enable it to function as the builders intended. Some of these components are large, and some are small, and I will list, show, and describe them all.

Launch Abort Motor

The launch abort motor is the escape rocket that pulls Orion away fast if the launcher has a problem during ascent.

The Launch Abort System NASA used for the Orion spacecraft.

It provides the main escape force, creating a very powerful pull that separates Orion from the rest of the launch. It works within milliseconds, because an emergency during launch can also happen that quickly.

Orion’s system is called a puller design, so the abort motor sits above the crew module and pulls it away instead of pushing from underneath. It keeps the crew module as far as possible from the burning rocket.

Reaction Control Motors

The Reaction Control Motors NASA used for the Orion Spacecraft.

The reaction control motors are small steering engines that point Orion in the right way, controlling where it goes, as it moves in space. They fire in really quick bursts, which rotates or nudges Orion in the correct direction. There are 24 of these, for maximum control.

The Jettison Motor

The Jettison Motor NASA used for the Orion Spacecraft.

The Jettison Motor is a small rocket that throws the Launch Abort System off, so that Orion can continue its flight. It is only used for a short amount of time, as its only use is to provide enough thrust to separate the whole Abort tower from the crew capsule. According to NASA, it is the only part of the Launch Abort System that also fires during a normal mission, not just in emergencies.

Main Service-Module Engine

The Main Service-Module Engine NASA used for the Orion Spacecraft.

The Main Service-Module Orion’s biggest engine for normal space travel. It also provides the Main push for any big maneuver.

• It gives 6,000 pounds of thrust.
• It handles most of the larger burns, while the other engines and thrusters do the steering.