By Carly Szabo
Hamilton resident Michael Harris Jr. aided in the successful recovery of the Orion test space capsule in December 2014.
On Dec. 5, 2014, the Orion test capsule launched in order to evaluate the system’s safety mechanisms. Thanks in part to Harris Jr.’s supervision, the recovery of the capsule was a success.
The Orion spacecraft is a new initiative set forth by NASA which aims to change the way humans travel in space. The capsule promises to “take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before,” touts NASA’s web page. Intended to carry a crew of up to four astronauts, the capsule will serve as an exploration vehicle with an emergency abort option. The capsule is designed for sustained space travel and will have the safety mechanisms in place for a safe return to Earth. NASA hopes it will facilitate human exploration of asteroids and Mars, as well as delivering or retrieving crew or supplies from the International Space Station.
It is not expected to carry astronauts until 2021 at the earliest. But thanks to the success of the test capsule and Harris’s involvement with the mission, NASA can take the next steps to developing its latest spacecraft.
Harris Jr. is a Lieutenant Junior Grade officer on the USS Anchorage, where he has been stationed in San Diego since graduating Norwich University in Vermont in 2012. The 24-year old received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Upon entering the Navy, he was given the honor of immediately being named an officer.
“He’s always indicated from an early age that he wanted to be in the military so we knew this would be a career path that he would eventually take,” said his father, Michael Harris Sr.
During the operation in December, Harris Jr. supervised the recovery of the capsule and aided in the tethering of the Orion to bring it back to the main ship. In months prior to the launch, the USS Anchorage had been participating in practice recovery methods. Their preparation paid off when the capsule landed a mere 500 feet from the intended target.
“The operation was flawless,” Harris Sr. said.
This isn’t the first accomplishment in Harris Jr.’s life. A 2008 graduate of Notre Dame High School, Harris was a varsity football player and an Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Scout project, he designed and built new lockers in the Notre Dame Football locker room. The idea came from his involvement with the team and a desire to better the facilities provided for those also involved.
Harris Jr.’s involvement with aeronautic efforts may not be over, as NASA plans to test the Orion space capsule further in upcoming months. It will be launched with the organization’s new heavy-lift rocket, according to the organization’s web page. This may not require Harris Jr.’s supervision as did the last launch, but his success with the most recent endeavor in Orion history will certainly not go unrecognized.
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