Historic NASA Orion Capsule Arrives at University of North Dakota
A significant piece of NASA’s space exploration history has found a new home at the University of North Dakota (UND). The NASA Orion Capsule, a Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) test vehicle, a mock spacecraft used to test astronaut safety systems, has arrived at UND for educational purposes.
NASA Orion Capsule: Journey to UND
The Orion MLAS capsule, which was part of a critical 2009 test to explore emergency escape methods for astronauts, completed a 30-state road trip from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia to its new location in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The capsule’s arrival marks a rare opportunity for the university, given its distance from major NASA centers.
“This is a major one,” said Pablo de León, chair of the space studies department at UND, expressing excitement about the acquisition. The capsule, now at UND, joins a select few Orion mockups available for public display, including those at the Kennedy Space Center and the National Air and Space Museum.
Educational and Restoration Plans
At UND, the Orion capsule will serve as a teaching tool, bridging NASA’s past missions with its future goals, including the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the moon. Before it is fully integrated into the curriculum, the capsule will undergo restoration. De León and his graduate students plan to sandblast the 18,000-pound (8,200 kg) mockup to restore its original paint scheme, while preserving the iconic NASA logo. They will also inspect the interior for any saltwater damage due to its ocean landing in 2009.
The university plans to move the restored capsule to a prominent location on campus, making it accessible to public school students from across the region. De León hopes to enrich the educational experience by developing a documentary about the capsule’s role in space exploration and its relevance to current NASA missions.
Expanding Space Education Resources
In addition to the Orion capsule, de León is working to acquire more space artifacts for instructional use. The collection already includes an Apollo-era Saturn I rocket engine, which is currently being refurbished for display. These efforts aim to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that connect historical space missions to future exploration.
The arrival of the Orion MLAS capsule at UND highlights the university’s commitment to advancing space education and preserving the history of space exploration for future generations.