NASA's new Orion spacecraft streaked into orbit Friday on a high-stakes test flight meant to usher in a new era of human exploration leading ultimately to Mars. (AP)

NASA entered a new era of space exploration when its Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean Friday morning after going further than any spacecraft built for humans had reached in more than 40 years.

The maiden test flight -- made without astronauts aboard -- is a step toward eventually getting astronauts to deep space: first to help snag an asteroid, and then, NASA hopes, to Mars. Orion lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., at 7:05 a.m., a day after gusty wind and problems with several valves forced officials to cancel the mission.

But on Friday, the 4.5-hour mission appeared to go off flawlessly. "There's your new spacecraft, America," said Mission Control commentator Rob Navias said shortly before Orion hit the water. It was a "picture perfect" flight, officials said.

As it sent back stunning images broadcast on NASAs website, Orion orbited the Earth twice, shot up to an altitude of about 3,600 miles above the Earth. That was farther than any spacecraft designed for humans had gone since the Apollo 17 moon mission in 1972.

It splashed into the Pacific Ocean at 11:29 a.m.

NASA's Orion spacecraft landed with a perfect splashdown Friday following an unmanned test mission that broke records for being the fastest and furthest space fight in a craft built for humans since the Apollo moon missions. (AP)

The successful test flight was cheered by ebullient officials from NASA and its partners in the mission: prime contractor Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin, which built Orion, and United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed and Boeing, which built the Delta IV Heavy rocket that launched Orion into orbit.

Moments after liftoff,Currie said it marked "the dawn of Orion and the new era of American space exploration."

Before the flight, NASA Administrator Charlie Boldencalled theLockheed Martin-manufactured Orion "our prima ballerina."

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NASAs Orion completes historic flight, ushers in new era