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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2674

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Syst... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane has lifted the Orion crew module out of a special test stand and is lowering the module onto another test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2681

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane has lifted the Orion crew module out of a special test stand and is lowering the mo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician monitors the progress as a crane lowers the Orion crew module onto a work stand after it was lifted out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2685

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician monitors the progress as a crane lowers the Orion crew module onto a work stand... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress and assist as a crane lowers the Orion crew module onto a work stand after it was lifted out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2684

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress and assist as a crane lowers the Orion crew module onto a ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians help secure the Orion crew module onto a work stand after it was lifted out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2687

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians help secure the Orion crew module onto a work stand after it was lifted out of ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians help secure the Orion crew module onto a work stand after it was lifted out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2686

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians help secure the Orion crew module onto a work stand after it was lifted out of ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane has lifted the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2679

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane has lifted the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2673

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Syst... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians and engineers monitor the progress as a crane is used to lift the Orion crew module from a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2671

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians and engineers monitor the progress as a crane is used to lift the Orion crew mo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians help secure the Orion crew module onto a work stand after a crane was used to lift it out of a special test. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2682

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians help secure the Orion crew module onto a work stand after a crane was used to l... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2672

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Syst... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians and engineers monitor the progress as a crane is used to lift the Orion crew module from a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2670

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians and engineers monitor the progress as a crane is used to lift the Orion crew mo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane has lifted the Orion crew module out of a special test stand and is lowering the module onto another test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2680

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane has lifted the Orion crew module out of a special test stand and is lowering the mo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2676

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Syst... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane is used to lower the Orion crew module onto a work stand after it was lifted out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2683

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane is used to lower the Orion crew module onto a work stand after it was lifted out of... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane has lifted the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2678

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane has lifted the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as a crane is used to lift the Orion crew module from a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2675

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as a crane is used to lift the Orion crew module from a sp... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and NASA engineers performed a series of static load tests on Orion that simulated the massive loads the spacecraft would experience during its mission.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight, Exploration Flight Test 1, is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2677

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew module out of a special test stand. Lockheed Martin Space Syst... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:30 p.m. EDT, headed over the Pacific Ocean to release the Pegasus XL rocket carrying NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the aircraft is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2945

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraf...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:30 p.m. EDT, headed over the Pacific Ocean to release the Pegasus XL rocket ca... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Videographer Lori Losey, back seat, and pilot Jim Less board an F-18 aircraft at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The F-18 will be the "chase plane" for the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft transporting the Pegasus XL rocket that will launch NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory to orbit. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the L-1011 is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2942

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Videographer Lori Losey, back seat...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Videographer Lori Losey, back seat, and pilot Jim Less board an F-18 aircraft at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The F-18 will be the "chase plane" for the Orbital S... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 and an Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxi to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket released from the L-1011. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2949

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 and an Orbital Science...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 and an Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxi to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spac... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket released from the L-1011. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2951

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft departs from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:30 p.m. EDT, headed over the Pacific Ocean to release the Pegasus XL rocket carrying NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the aircraft is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2946

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraf...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft departs from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:30 p.m. EDT, headed over the Pacific Ocean to release the Pegasus XL rocket carr... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxis to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket released from the L-1011. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2950

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxis to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:30 p.m. EDT, headed over the Pacific Ocean to release the Pegasus XL rocket carrying NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the aircraft is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2939

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircra...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:30 p.m. EDT, headed over the Pacific Ocean to release the Pegasus XL rocket c... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxis to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket released from the L-1011. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2952

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxis to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Videographer Lori Losey boards an F-18 aircraft at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The F-18 "chase plane" will accompany the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft as it transports the Pegasus XL rocket carrying NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory over the Pacific Ocean. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the L-1011 is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2941

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Videographer Lori Losey boards an ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Videographer Lori Losey boards an F-18 aircraft at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The F-18 "chase plane" will accompany the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft as it t... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on a mission to record the launch of NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket released from an L-1011 carrier aircraft. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2953

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 takes off from Vandenb...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 takes off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on a mission to record the launch of NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short for Interface Regi... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 and an Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxi to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket released from the L-1011. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2948

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 and an Orbital Science...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A NASA F-18 and an Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxi to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spac... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft departs from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:30 p.m. EDT, headed over the Pacific Ocean to release the Pegasus XL rocket carrying NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the aircraft is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2947

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraf...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft departs from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:30 p.m. EDT, headed over the Pacific Ocean to release the Pegasus XL rocket carr... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An F-18 aircraft departs from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The plane will serve as the "chase plane" accompanying the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft as it transports the Pegasus XL rocket carrying NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory over the Pacific Ocean. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the L-1011 is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2943

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An F-18 aircraft departs from Vand...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An F-18 aircraft departs from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The plane will serve as the "chase plane" accompanying the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft as it trans... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxis to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. IRIS, short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket released from the L-1011. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2954

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft taxis to the runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., before taking off on a mission to launch NASA's IRIS spacecraft into low... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An F-18 aircraft flies by a launch pad as it departs from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The plane will serve as the "chase plane" accompanying the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft as it transports the Pegasus XL rocket carrying NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory over the Pacific Ocean. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the L-1011 is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2944

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An F-18 aircraft flies by a launch...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An F-18 aircraft flies by a launch pad as it departs from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The plane will serve as the "chase plane" accompanying the Orbital Sciences... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Final preparations are underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for the departure of the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft and Pegasus XL rocket. The rocket will carry NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, solar observatory to orbit. Release of the rocket from under the wing of the aircraft is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT.    IRIS will open a new window of discovery using spectrometry and imaging to trace the flow of energy and plasma through the chromospheres and transition region into the sun’s corona. The spacecraft will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. This interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and its upper atmosphere, is where most of its ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. NASA's Launch Services Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is managing the countdown and launch. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iris.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-2940

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Final preparations are underway at...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Final preparations are underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for the departure of the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft and Pegasus XL rocket. The rocket will ca... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians attach a crane to a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft to prepare it to be lifted into High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3048

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians attach a crane to a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft to prepare it ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians attach a crane to a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft to prepare it to be lifted into High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3047

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly B...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians attach a crane to a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft to prepare it t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations on a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft and launch abort system in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.      Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3046

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations on a full-s... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician monitors the progress as a crane operator lowers a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft in High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3054

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Ken...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician monitors the progress as a crane operator lowers a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft in H... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a full-size mockup of the Orion spacecraft is being prepared for lifting into High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.     Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3044

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a full-size mockup of the Orion spacecraft is being prepared for lifting into High Bay 4... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for transfer to High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3049

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for transfer to High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3053

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a full-size mockup of the Orion spacecraft is being prepared for lifting into High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.      Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3045

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a full-size mockup of the Orion spacecraft is being prepared for lifting into High Bay 4... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as a crane operator lowers a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft in High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3055

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Ken...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as a crane operator lowers a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft in Hig... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a full-size mockup of the Orion spacecraft sits on a transporter. Crane operators and technicians are preparing to lift the mockup and transfer it into High Bay 4 in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3043

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a full-size mockup of the Orion spacecraft sits on a transporter. Crane operators and te... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for transfer to High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3052

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for transfer to High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program..    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3051

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for transfer to High Bay 4. Crane operators and technicians practice stacking and de-stacking operations in order to keep processing procedures and skills current for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-3050

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane operator lifts a full-size mock-up of the Orion spacecraft high in the air for t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, is backed by flatbed truck into a low bay at the facility. The low bay has been prepared for additional LAS processing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The LAS is designed to safely pull the Orion crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the initial ascent of NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on the SLS rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-3818

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s K...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, is backed by flatbed truck into a ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Launch Abort System Facility high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 mission is being loaded onto a flatbed truck. The LAS will be moved to a low bay at the facility to complete processing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The LAS is designed to safely pull the Orion crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the initial ascent of NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on the SLS rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-3814

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Launch Abort System Facility high ba...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Launch Abort System Facility high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 mission is being loade... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, has been transferred from the high bay to a low bay at the facility. The low bay has been prepared for additional LAS processing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The LAS is designed to safely pull the Orion crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the initial ascent of NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on the SLS rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-3819

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s K...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, has been transferred from the high... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Launch Abort System Facility high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 mission is being loaded onto a flatbed truck. The LAS will be moved to a low bay at the facility to complete processing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The LAS is designed to safely pull the Orion crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the initial ascent of NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on the SLS rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-3813

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Launch Abort System Facility high ba...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Launch Abort System Facility high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 mission is being loade... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, is being moved by flatbed truck from the high bay. The LAS will be moved to a low bay at the facility to complete processing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The LAS is designed to safely pull the Orion crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the initial ascent of NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on the SLS rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-3815

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s K...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, is being moved by flatbed truck fr... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, is being moved by flatbed truck from the high bay. The LAS will be moved to a low bay at the facility to complete processing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The LAS is designed to safely pull the Orion crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the initial ascent of NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on the SLS rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-3816

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s K...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, is being moved by flatbed truck fr... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, is backed by flatbed truck into a low bay at the facility. The low bay has been prepared for additional LAS processing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The LAS is designed to safely pull the Orion crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the initial ascent of NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. Orion’s first unpiloted test flight is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket. A second uncrewed flight test is scheduled for 2017 on the SLS rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-3817

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s K...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the launch abort system, or LAS, for the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1, is backed by flatbed truck into a ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians are preparing a crane to lift the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft. The service module will be mated to the spacecraft adapter cone for testing. Technicians have applied shims, drilled fasteners and built up the cable harnesses on the bulkhead.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4103

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians are preparing a crane to lift the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacec... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft for the move to a lifting station. The service module will be mated to the spacecraft adapter cone for testing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4104

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft for the move to a... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft is lifted by crane from a work stand. The service module will be mated to the spacecraft adapter cone for testing.     Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4108

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the spacecraft adapter cone for the Orion spacecraft is positioned on special protective blocks for processing work. It will be mated to the service module for testing.      Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4109

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the spacecraft adapter cone for the Orion spacecraft is positioned on special protective b... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the spacecraft adapter cone for the Orion spacecraft is positioned on special protective blocks for processing work. It will be mated to the service module for testing.      Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4110

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the spacecraft adapter cone for the Orion spacecraft is positioned on special protective b... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft is lifted by crane from a work stand. The service module will be mated to the spacecraft adapter cone for testing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4107

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepare the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft for the move to a lifting station. The service module will be mated to the spacecraft adapter cone for testing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4106

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepare the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft for the move to a lifting sta... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft for the move to a lifting station. The service module will be mated to the spacecraft adapter cone for testing.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4105

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare the service module bulkhead for the Orion spacecraft for the move to a... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, lifting NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft off Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    Launch was on schedule at 1:28 p.m. EST Nov. 18 at the opening of a two-hour launch window. After a 10-month journey to the Red Planet, MAVEN will study its upper atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit above the planet. Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., MAVEN will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and will be inserted into an elliptical orbit with a high point of 3,900 miles, swooping down to as close as 93 miles above the planet's surface. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-4029

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch All...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, lifting NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft off Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canave... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off through the clouds over Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft.    Launch was on schedule at 1:28 p.m. EST Nov. 18 at the opening of a two-hour launch window. After a 10-month journey to the Red Planet, MAVEN will study its upper atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit above the planet. Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., MAVEN will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and will be inserted into an elliptical orbit with a high point of 3,900 miles, swooping down to as close as 93 miles above the planet's surface. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-4035

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off through the clouds over Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Vola... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, lifting NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft off Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    Launch was on schedule at 1:28 p.m. EST Nov. 18 at the opening of a two-hour launch window. After a 10-month journey to the Red Planet, MAVEN will study its upper atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit above the planet. Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., MAVEN will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and will be inserted into an elliptical orbit with a high point of 3,900 miles, swooping down to as close as 93 miles above the planet's surface. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-4030

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch All...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, lifting NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft off Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canave... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, lifting NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft off Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    Launch was on schedule at 1:28 p.m. EST Nov. 18 at the opening of a two-hour launch window. After a 10-month journey to the Red Planet, MAVEN will study its upper atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit above the planet. Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., MAVEN will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and will be inserted into an elliptical orbit with a high point of 3,900 miles, swooping down to as close as 93 miles above the planet's surface. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-4031

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch All...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, lifting NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft off Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canave... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft begins its 10-month journey to Mars, launching atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 1:28 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    Launch was on schedule Nov. 18 at the opening of a two-hour launch window. After a 10-month journey to the Red Planet, MAVEN will study its upper atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit above the planet. Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., MAVEN will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and will be inserted into an elliptical orbit with a high point of 3,900 miles, swooping down to as close as 93 miles above the planet's surface. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-4032

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN,...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft begins its 10-month journey to Mars, launching atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 1:28 p.m. EST from Spac... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft begins its 10-month journey to Mars, launching atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 1:28 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    Launch was on schedule Nov. 18 at the opening of a two-hour launch window. After a 10-month journey to the Red Planet, MAVEN will study its upper atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit above the planet. Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., MAVEN will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and will be inserted into an elliptical orbit with a high point of 3,900 miles, swooping down to as close as 93 miles above the planet's surface. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-4033

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN,...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft begins its 10-month journey to Mars, launching atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 1:28 p.m. EST from Spac... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off through the clouds over Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft.    Launch was on schedule at 1:28 p.m. EST Nov. 18 at the opening of a two-hour launch window. After a 10-month journey to the Red Planet, MAVEN will study its upper atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit above the planet. Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., MAVEN will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and will be inserted into an elliptical orbit with a high point of 3,900 miles, swooping down to as close as 93 miles above the planet's surface. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-4034

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off through the clouds over Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Vola... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, lifting NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft off Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.    Launch was on schedule at 1:28 p.m. EST Nov. 18 at the opening of a two-hour launch window. After a 10-month journey to the Red Planet, MAVEN will study its upper atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit above the planet. Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., MAVEN will arrive at Mars in September 2014 and will be inserted into an elliptical orbit with a high point of 3,900 miles, swooping down to as close as 93 miles above the planet's surface. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2013-4028

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch All...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The engine ignites under the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, lifting NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, spacecraft off Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canave... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician on a scissor lift works on the service module for the Orion spacecraft. To the right and left are two of the three fairings that will be installed around the service module.    The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4523

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician on a scissor lift works on the service module for the Orion spacecraft. To the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A view from above inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, shows the service module for the Orion spacecraft secured to a work stand. Technicians are preparing the three fairings for installation around the service module.     The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4524

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A view from above inside the Operations and Che...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A view from above inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, shows the service module for the Orion spacecraft secured to a work stand... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the service module for the Orion spacecraft is secured to a work stand and is being prepared for fairing installation. To the right and left are two of the three fairings that will be installed around the service module.    The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4522

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the service module for the Orion spacecraft is secured to a work stand and is being prepare... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A view from above inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, shows the service module for the Orion spacecraft secured to a work stand. Technicians are preparing the three fairings for installation around the service module.     The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4525

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A view from above inside the Operations and Che...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A view from above inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, shows the service module for the Orion spacecraft secured to a work stand... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the service module for the Orion spacecraft is secured to a work stand. Technicians are preparing the three fairings for installation around the service module.      The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4526

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the service module for the Orion spacecraft is secured to a work stand. Technicians are pre... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use a special handling device to move the first of three fairings closer for installation on the service module for the Orion spacecraft. The second fairing is positioned at right and will be prepared for installation on the service module.      The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4470

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use a special handling device to move the first of three fairings closer for in... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the service module for the Orion spacecraft has been placed on a work stand. Preparations are underway to install the first of three fairings around the service module.      The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4465

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the service module for the Orion spacecraft has been placed on a work stand. Preparations a... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use a special handling device to move the first of three fairings for installation on the service module for the Orion spacecraft.      The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4467

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use a special handling device to move the first of three fairings for installat... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use a special handling device to move the first of three fairings for installation on the service module for the Orion spacecraft.      The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4468

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use a special handling device to move the first of three fairings for installat... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare the first of three fairings for installation on the service module for the Orion spacecraft.      The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4466

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare the first of three fairings for installation on the service module for ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use a special handling device to move the first of three fairings closer for installation on the service module for the Orion spacecraft.      The Orion spacecraft is being prepared for its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, scheduled for launch atop a Delta IV rocket in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Orion is scheduled to launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in 2017. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4469

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building hig...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians use a special handling device to move the first of three fairings closer for in... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway near the former site of the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.    The center shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 140,000 acres that are a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. It contains more than 1,000 known plant species. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, and a variety of insects.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2014-1995

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway near the former site of the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway near the former site of the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.    The center shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 140,000 acres that are a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. It contains more than 1,000 known plant species. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, and a variety of insects.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2014-1993

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway near the former site of the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway near the former site of the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.    The center shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 140,000 acres that are a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. It contains more than 1,000 known plant species. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, and a variety of insects.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2014-1994

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway near the former site of the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway near the former site of the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.    The center shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 140,000 acres that are a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. It contains more than 1,000 known plant species. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, and a variety of insects.  Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2014-1996

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway near the former site of the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System arrives by truck at the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogive panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.       Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2055

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Lau...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System arrives by truck at the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogiv... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System arrives by truck at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Ogive panels will be delivered to the Launch Abort System Facility. During processing, the panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.     Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2052

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Lau...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System arrives by truck at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Ogive panels will be delivered to the Launch Abort System F... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System are being offloaded for transfer into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogive panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.      Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2056

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive pane...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System are being offloaded for transfer into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System arrives by truck at the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogive panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.      Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2053

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Lau...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System arrives by truck at the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogiv... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A container carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System is offloaded for transfer into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogive panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2058

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A container carrying the first set of Ogive pan...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A container carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System is offloaded for transfer into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Flor... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System aretransferred into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogive panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2059

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive pane...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System aretransferred into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System have been transferred into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogive panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2057

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive pane...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Containers carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System have been transferred into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System arrives by truck at the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogive panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.      Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2054

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Lau...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System arrives by truck at the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogiv... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A container carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System is transferred into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During processing, the Ogive panels will enclose and protect the Orion spacecraft and attach to the Launch Abort System.    Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Daniel Casper KSC-2014-2060

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A container carrying the first set of Ogive pan...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A container carrying the first set of Ogive panels for the Orion Launch Abort System is transferred into the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, center director Bob Cabana announces that NASA has just signed a lease agreement with Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., for use and operation of Launch Complex 39A. NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, left, and Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, look on.      SpaceX will use Launch Complex 39A for rockets such as the Falcon Heavy, currently under development. Both launch pad 39A and 39B were originally built for the Apollo/Saturn V rockets that launched American astronauts on their historic journeys to the moon and later modified to support the 30-year shuttle program. Pad 39B is now being modified by NASA to support the Space Launch System SLS rocket boosting the Orion spacecraft part of the agency’s plan to explore beyond low-Earth orbit. To learn more about Launch Pad 39A visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch-complex39-toc.html Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2014-2098

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, cent...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, center director Bob Cabana announces that NASA has just signed a lease agreement with Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif.... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., speaks to members of the news media announcing that NASA has just signed a lease agreement with SpaceX for use and operation of Launch Complex 39A.      SpaceX will use Launch Complex 39A for rockets such as the Falcon Heavy, currently under development. Both launch pad 39A and 39B were originally built for the Apollo/Saturn V rockets that launched American astronauts on their historic journeys to the moon and later modified to support the 30-year shuttle program. Pad 39B is now being modified by NASA to support the Space Launch System SLS rocket boosting the Orion spacecraft part of the agency’s plan to explore beyond low-Earth orbit. To learn more about Launch Pad 39A visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch-complex39-toc.html Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2014-2103

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwyn...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., speaks to members of the n... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., announces that NASA has just signed a lease agreement with SpaceX for use and operation of Launch Complex 39A.      SpaceX will use Launch Complex 39A for rockets such as the Falcon Heavy, currently under development. Both launch pad 39A and 39B were originally built for the Apollo/Saturn V rockets that launched American astronauts on their historic journeys to the moon and later modified to support the 30-year shuttle program. Pad 39B is now being modified by NASA to support the Space Launch System SLS rocket boosting the Orion spacecraft part of the agency’s plan to explore beyond low-Earth orbit. To learn more about Launch Pad 39A visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch-complex39-toc.html Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2014-2101

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwyn...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., announces that NASA has ju... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, from the left, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana pose in from the of the historic launch complex after announcing that NASA has just signed a lease agreement with SpaceX for use and operation of Launch Complex 39A.        SpaceX will use Launch Complex 39A for rockets such as the Falcon Heavy, currently under development. Both launch pad 39A and 39B were originally built for the Apollo/Saturn V rockets that launched American astronauts on their historic journeys to the moon and later modified to support the 30-year shuttle program. Pad 39B is now being modified by NASA to support the Space Launch System SLS rocket boosting the Orion spacecraft part of the agency’s plan to explore beyond low-Earth orbit. To learn more about Launch Pad 39A visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch-complex39-toc.html Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2014-2104

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, from...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, from the left, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies Space... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., announces that NASA has just signed a lease agreement with SpaceX for use and operation of Launch Complex 39A. NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, left, and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana listen.      SpaceX will use Launch Complex 39A for rockets such as the Falcon Heavy, currently under development. Both launch pad 39A and 39B were originally built for the Apollo/Saturn V rockets that launched American astronauts on their historic journeys to the moon and later modified to support the 30-year shuttle program. Pad 39B is now being modified by NASA to support the Space Launch System SLS rocket boosting the Orion spacecraft part of the agency’s plan to explore beyond low-Earth orbit. To learn more about Launch Pad 39A visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch-complex39-toc.html Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2014-2102

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwyn...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., announces that NASA has ju... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden announces that NASA has just signed a lease agreement with Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., for use and operation of Launch Complex 39A.      SpaceX will use Launch Complex 39A for rockets such as the Falcon Heavy, currently under development. Both launch pad 39A and 39B were originally built for the Apollo/Saturn V rockets that launched American astronauts on their historic journeys to the moon and later modified to support the 30-year shuttle program. Pad 39B is now being modified by NASA to support the Space Launch System SLS rocket boosting the Orion spacecraft part of the agency’s plan to explore beyond low-Earth orbit. To learn more about Launch Pad 39A visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch-complex39-toc.html Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper KSC-2014-2100

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A, NASA A...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden announces that NASA has just signed a lease agreement with Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX of Hawthorne, C... More

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