NASA's Orion spacecraft splashes down after test flight

NASA's unmanned spacecraft, Orion, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean approximately 600 southwest of San Diego Friday, wrapping up its first test flight that lasted about four and a half hours.

Flight controllers have reported that the spacecraft is in a stable configuration.

The new unhumaned spacecraft, Orion, designed to carry astronauts to Mars.

"We have splashed down! Splashdown confirmed," a NASA TV commentator said after the capsule splashed into water at 11.29 a.m.(1629 GMT), about 966 km off the coast of Baja California.

A US Navy helicopter is flying out to start the recovery of Orion, NASA said.

The Delta IV rocket carrying new Orion spacecraft for an unmanned test flight lifted off at 7.05 a.m. Friday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, NASA announced.

Orion orbited the Earth twice, reaching a peak altitude of 5,793 km during its trip.