How NASA’s Orion Spacecraft Docks in Space | Lockheed Martin Space

How NASA’s Orion Spacecraft Docks in Space | Lockheed Martin Space

Orion is NASA’s next-generation spacecraft, designed to carry astronauts to the Moon and beyond. But to reach the lunar surface, it must first master one of the most complex maneuvers in spaceflight: rendezvous, proximity operations and docking—known as RPOD.

In this video, explore how we developed Orion’s advanced RPOD system using cameras, LiDAR and cutting-edge software to guide and control every step of the docking process with NASA. From high-tech simulations in California and Colorado to future Artemis missions, discover how Orion will autonomously (and safely) link up with lunar landers and space stations—hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth.

Watch to learn how this technology will pave the way for the first human return to the Moon since Apollo—and set the stage for Mars.

Learn more: https://lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2025/docking-orion.html

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Video Credit: Lockheed Martin Space
Duration: 4 minutes
Release Date: July 1, 2025

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