Orion’s Journey - Part 2: Entering Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO)

The video explains Orion's mission to enter a distant retrograde orbit (DRO) around the moon. The spacecraft approaches 60 miles above the moon's surface, and mission controllers fire the service module's engines to achieve the desired orbit. Orion travels for five days to reach the orbit, which is 40,000 miles beyond the moon. Once in DRO, Orion orbits the moon in the opposite direction of the moon's orbit around Earth. This stable orbit allows Orion to remain for six days before returning to Earth.

What is the primary goal of firing the service module's engines?

• To reach a specific altitude for orbit

• To land on the moon

• To communicate with Earth

• To return to Earth

How long does Orion travel to reach the distant retrograde orbit?

• Ten days

• Seven days

• Five days

• Three days

What does 'retrograde' mean in the context of Orion's orbit?

• Moving slower than the moon

• Moving in the opposite direction to the moon

• Moving in the same direction as the moon

• Moving faster than the moon

Why is the distant retrograde orbit considered stable for Orion?

• It is close to Earth

• It is far from the moon

• It requires minimal energy to maintain

• It is close to the moon

How many days does Orion spend orbiting the moon before returning to Earth?

• Eight days

• Six days

• Ten days

• Four days