Orion

Video: Onboard camera captures Orion capsule return to Earth

December 5, 2014 Spaceflight Now

A camera mounted aboard the Orion capsule for the EFT-1 test flight records the space capsules plunge toward the Pacific Ocean and its splashdown beneath three parachutes.

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.

Video: Delta 4-Heavy tower rollback

December 4, 2014 Justin Ray

The mobile service tower is retracted from the Delta 4-Heavy rocket and Orion spacecraft for Exploration Flight Test 1.

John Grunsfeld speaks about Orion’s science goals

December 4, 2014 Stephen Clark

John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, speaks about the EFT-1 test flight and science opportunities made possible by the Orion capsule and its Space Launch System rocket.

Photos: Gantry rolled back to reveal Orion

December 4, 2014 Justin Ray

The 330-foot tall mobile service tower has been retracted from the Delta 4-Heavy rocket at Cape Canaveral’s pad 37B for tomorrow morning’s launch that will place the Orion spacecraft on its intended trajectory.

ESA member states commit funding for Orion service module

December 3, 2014 Stephen Clark

As a barebones Orion spacecraft awaits its first launch from Cape Canaveral, representatives of European governments agreed to fund the development of a power and propulsion element to take the crew capsule on voyages around the moon, to an asteroid, and eventually to Mars.

Preview: Orion spacecraft poised for critical test flight

December 3, 2014 William Harwood

NASA is gearing up for a milestone unmanned test flight Thursday, the first launch of the agency’s Orion deep space exploration spacecraft intended to one day carry astronauts on missions beyond low-Earth orbit to the vicinity of the moon, one or more nearby asteroids and, eventually, Mars.