<p>NASA's Orion space capsule splashed down safely in the Pacific on Sunday, completing the Artemis 1 mission, a more than 25-day journey around the Moon with an eye to returning humans there in just a few years,&nbsp;<em>AFP</em>&nbsp;reported.</p> <p>After racing through the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 40,000 kilometers per hour, the uncrewed capsule floated down to the sea with the help of three large red and white parachutes, as seen on NASA TV.</p> <p>After a few hours of tests, the vessel will be recovered by a US Navy ship in waters off the coast of Mexico's Baja California.</p> <p>The capsule shaped like a gumdrop had to withstand a temperature 2,800 degrees Celsius — about half that of the surface of the sun — as it entered the Earth's atmosphere.</p> <p>The main goal of this mission was to test Orion's heat shield for the day when it is humans and not test mannequins riding inside, according to&nbsp;<em>AFP</em>.</p> <p>Achieving success in the mission was key for NASA, which has invested tens of billions of dollars in the Artemis program due to take people back to the Moon and prepare for an eventual onward trip to Mars.</p>