Photos: Delta 4-Heavy ready for Orion flight test November 26, 2014 Justin Ray Launch will occur from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 37 launch pad. Credit: ULA The Orion spacecraft stands 73 feet tall. Credit: ULA Launch is set to occur at 7:05 a.m. EST on Dec. 4. Credit: ULA The first flight test of Orion will be a two-orbit, four-hour shakedown cruise to check critical systems of the crew capsule. Credit: ULA Delta 369EFT-1
Delta 4 Delta 4-Heavy blasts off with Orion capsule December 5, 2014 Justin Ray NASA’s inaugural Orion spaceship has set sail on a two-orbit, four-hour shakedown cruise around the Earth, leaving port atop a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket and its incandescent power at 7:05 a.m. EST on Dec. 5.