Traveling Spacecraft Spotted on Houston Highway

By THC Staff | June 18, 2016

 

The sight of a NASA space capsule traveling down the highway on Wednesday morning baffled Houston drivers and passengers. The spacecraft Orion seemed to be nonchalantly traveling up I-45 on the bed of an 18-wheeler to its weekend destination of Comicpalooza in the downtown George R. Brown Convention Center.

NASA encouraged those who spotted Orion to tweet or Instagram with the hashtag #SpotOrion.

#SpotOrion Beltway 8 and I45 pic.twitter.com/fYZZpnA8o5

— 🌮(((Stuart))) 🇺🇲 🟧🟦 I 🇮🇱 (@violinii) June 15, 2016

NASA recently used this capsule to train astronauts on how to exit the vehicle after a water landing, so it’s not the final version of Orion. Orion is considered by many to be part of “humankind’s best chance at a manned mission to Mars.”

Passing loop 610 on I45 in #Houston. #SpotOrion pic.twitter.com/ywzRGK4xY9

— Orion Spacecraft (@NASA_Orion) June 15, 2016

We’re a bit jealous of the lucky Houstonians who caught a glimpse of the future of space travel heading down the highway for a weekend getaway! Truly a once in a lifetime sight.