Orion's Splashdown. Poem by Tor Magnor Solvang

A starship flies, so high and fast,
Orion's home, built to last.
A fiery test, it must now face,
Against the sky, it runs its race.

Mach thirty-two, a screaming sound,
The air grows hot, all around.
Five thousand degrees, a plasma bright,
A shield must fight, with all its might.

The biggest shield, ablative and bold,
A story in its layers told.
It burns and melts, to keep inside,
The precious crew, safely to ride.

Slowing down, the speed takes flight,
Parachutes bloom, a wondrous sight.
Eleven steps, a careful dance,
A graceful, gentle, final chance.

Red and white, they fill the sky,
A landing soft, as waves roll by.
A gentle kiss, upon the sea,
Orion safe, for all to see.