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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by Astrotech, uses air flow produced by two banks of fans to keep particles from settling on the surface of a spacecraft during processing. Engineers are considering using the design in the future to protect the spacecraft after it is secured to the top of the Space Launch System rocket. Photo credit: NASA/Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-2881

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by Astrotech, uses air flow produced by two banks of fans to keep particles from settling on the surface of a spacecraft during processing. Engineers are considering using the design in the future to protect the spacecraft after it is secured to the top of the Space Launch System rocket. Photo credit: NASA/Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-2879

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by Astrotech, uses air flow produced by two banks of fans to keep particles from settling on the surface of a spacecraft during processing. Engineers are considering using the design in the future to protect the spacecraft after it is secured to the top of the Space Launch System rocket. Photo credit: NASA/Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-2882

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by Astrotech, uses air flow produced by two banks of fans to keep particles from settling on the surface of a spacecraft during processing. Engineers are considering using the design in the future to protect the spacecraft after it is secured to the top of the Space Launch System rocket. Photo credit: NASA/Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-2883

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by Astrotech, uses air flow produced by two banks of fans to keep particles from settling on the surface of a spacecraft during processing. Engineers are considering using the design in the future to protect the spacecraft after it is secured to the top of the Space Launch System rocket. Photo credit: NASA/Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-2878

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by Astrotech, uses air flow produced by two banks of fans to keep particles from settling on the surface of a spacecraft during processing. Engineers are considering using the design in the future to protect the spacecraft after it is secured to the top of the Space Launch System rocket. Photo credit: NASA/Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-2880

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An Orion test capsule sits inside a temporary clean room in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during testing. The clean room, built by ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Faculty of the International Space University stand with their 1/60th scale model of the Space Launch System rocket during the rocket launch competition of the ISU's summer session. The competition was conducted at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which co-hosted this year's ISU. Six teams designed and built large model rockets, each between three and five feet tall, and launched them from Launch Pad 39A, the starting point for Apollo missions to the moon and dozens of space shuttle flights. Each launch carried a raw egg, dubbed "eggstronauts" and had to recover it intact to be declared successful. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahsser KSC-2012-3852

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Faculty of the International Space University s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Faculty of the International Space University stand with their 1/60th scale model of the Space Launch System rocket during the rocket launch competition of the ISU's summer session. The c... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Faculty of the International Space University assemble their 1/60th scale model of the Space Launch System rocket during the rocket launch competition of the ISU's summer session. The competition was conducted at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which co-hosted this year's ISU. Six teams designed and built large model rockets, each between three and five feet tall, and launched them from Launch Pad 39A, the starting point for Apollo missions to the moon and dozens of space shuttle flights. Each launch carried a raw egg, dubbed "eggstronauts" and had to recover it intact to be declared successful. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahsser KSC-2012-3844

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Faculty of the International Space University a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Faculty of the International Space University assemble their 1/60th scale model of the Space Launch System rocket during the rocket launch competition of the ISU's summer session. The com... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its service module simulator in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 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 first uncrewed test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside except for four mockup astronaut seats and hatch. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-4316

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its service module simulator in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its service module simulator in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 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 first uncrewed test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside except for four mockup astronaut seats and hatch. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-4319

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its service module simulator in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Seen from overhead, mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are laid out in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the foreground is the Launch Abort System and the aerodynamic shell that will cover the capsule during launch. To the right is the Orion capsule model on top of a service module simulator. 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 first uncrewed test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside except for four mockup astronaut seats and hatch. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-4318

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Seen from overhead, mockup components of an Ori...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Seen from overhead, mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are laid out in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are laid out in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the foreground is the Launch Abort System. In the background is the Orion capsule model on top of a service module simulator. 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 first uncrewed test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside except for four mockup astronaut seats and hatch. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-4317

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are la...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are laid out in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the foreground is the L... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its service module simulator in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. To the left is the aerodynamic shell that will cover the capsule during launch. 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 first uncrewed test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside except for four mockup astronaut seats and hatch. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-4320

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion mockup spacecraft sits atop its service module simulator in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. To the left i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are laid out in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the foreground are the Launch Abort System and the aerodynamic shell that will cover the capsule during launch. To the right is the Orion capsule model on top of a service module simulator. 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 first uncrewed test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside except for four mockup astronaut seats and hatch. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-4315

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are la...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are laid out in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the foreground are the ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Seen from overhead, mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are laid out in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the foreground is the Launch Abort System and the aerodynamic shell that will cover the capsule during launch. To the right is the Orion capsule model on top of a service module simulator. 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 first uncrewed test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside except for four mockup astronaut seats and hatch. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-4321

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Seen from overhead, mockup components of an Ori...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Seen from overhead, mockup components of an Orion spacecraft are laid out in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the... More

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the control room at the Launch Equipment Test Facility, or LETF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Lockheed Martin engineers monitor the pyrotechnic bolt test on the Orion ground test vehicle at the LETF. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-5959

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the control room at the Launch Equipment ...

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the control room at the Launch Equipment Test Facility, or LETF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Lockheed Martin engineers monitor the pyrotechnic bolt test on the Orion ... More

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- The Orion ground test vehicle sits on a test stand in the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida while engineers and technicians prepare it for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-5956

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- The Orion ground test vehicle sits on a test sta...

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- The Orion ground test vehicle sits on a test stand in the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida while engineers and technicians prepare it for a pyrotech... More

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, a Lockheed Martin technician prepares the Orion ground test vehicle for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-5958

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NAS...

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, a Lockheed Martin technician prepares the Orion ground test vehicle for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Mar... More

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, the Orion ground test vehicle has been transferred to a test stand and prepared for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-5957

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NAS...

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, the Orion ground test vehicle has been transferred to a test stand and prepared for a pyrotechnic bolt test. ... More

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, sensors have been placed on the Orion ground test vehicle and cameras placed nearby in order to monitor pyrotechnic bolt tests. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-5960

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NAS...

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, sensors have been placed on the Orion ground test vehicle and cameras placed nearby in order to monitor pyrote... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lowered onto a transporter in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. Visible in the background on the left is the space shuttle Atlantis being readied for its move to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-5895

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service mod...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lowered onto a transporter in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lifted in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. Visible in the background on the left is the space shuttle Atlantis being readied for its move to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-5892

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service mod...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lifted in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lifted in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-5891

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service mod...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lifted in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lowered onto a transporter in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. Visible in the background on the left is the space shuttle Atlantis being readied for its move to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-5894

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service mod...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lowered onto a transporter in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lowered onto a transporter in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion mockup is exact in details on the outside, but mostly empty on the inside. The work in the VAB is crucial to making sure the designs are accurate. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/ Dmitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-5893

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service mod...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion mockup spacecraft atop its service module simulator is lowered onto a transporter in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module is undergoing proof pressure testing at the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test incrementally pressurizes the spacecraft with breathing air and is designed to demonstrate weld strength capability and structural performance at maximum flight operating pressures. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky KSC-2012-6105

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module is undergoing proof pressure testing at the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test incrementa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module is undergoing proof pressure testing at the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test incrementally pressurizes the spacecraft with breathing air and is designed to demonstrate weld strength capability and structural performance at maximum flight operating pressures. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky KSC-2012-6103

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module is undergoing proof pressure testing at the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test incrementa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module is undergoing proof pressure testing at the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test incrementally pressurizes the spacecraft with breathing air and is designed to demonstrate weld strength capability and structural performance at maximum flight operating pressures. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky KSC-2012-6104

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 crew module is undergoing proof pressure testing at the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test incrementa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-6229

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a moc... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked by technicians and engineers at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to assess the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-6228

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked by technicians and engineers at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves from the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test article is on its way to the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6232

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves from the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test article is on its way to the Multi-Pay... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft arrives at the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6245

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft arrives at the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during futur... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves out of the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6242

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves out of the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware wi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves from the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test article is on its way to the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6233

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves from the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test article is on its way to the Multi-Pay... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves inside the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6240

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves inside the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware wi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves inside the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6239

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves inside the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware wi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft arrives at the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6237

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft arrives at the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-6226

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a moc... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the spacecraft is being transferred to the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6236

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the spacecraft is b...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the spacecraft is being transferred to the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardwa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft from of the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test article is on its way to the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6235

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft from of the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test article is on its way to the Multi-Payloa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft arrives at the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6244

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft arrives at the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during futur... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-6225

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a moc... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-6231

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a moc... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion crew exploration vehicle arrives at the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6238

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion crew expl...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion crew exploration vehicle arrives at the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion crew exploration vehicle from of the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test article is on its way to the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6234

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion crew expl...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion crew exploration vehicle from of the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test article is on its way to th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Monitoring the activity, from the left are Kent Bachelor, Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies lead, Kelli Maloney, NASA lead and Clayton Gvasse, Nelson Engineering lead. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-6227

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Monitoring the activity,... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves out of the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6241

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft moves out of the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, or MPPF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware wi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft is being transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take during future launch 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2012-6243

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraf...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A full-size test mock-up of the Orion spacecraft is being transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test the path flight hardware will take... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked by technicians and engineers at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to assess the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-6230

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked by technicians and engineers at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This is a printable version of the NASA Kennedy Space Center 2012 holiday poster. It depicts Santa Claus riding a spacecraft from NASA's Commercial Crew Program as he delivers toys all over the world for the holidays, including Astro Socks, Cosmic Soda and Magnetic boots that have been International Space Station certified. Santa also holds a model rocket for delivery and is steering his rocketship toward a stop at the space station during his deliveries. Lifting off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Santa is taking advantage of technologies developed at Kennedy in the Ground Systems Operations and Development Program and the Launch Services Program. The same advancements that are propelling Santa through space will be used for NASA's next generation of deep space missions: the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. The NASA insignia appears in the upper right corner. For a black-and-white coloring sheet version, go to http://go.nasa.gov/V3KLEc. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/kennedy.Poster designed by Kennedy Space Center Graphics Department. Credit: NASA KSC-2012-6453

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This is a printable version of the NASA Kenned...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This is a printable version of the NASA Kennedy Space Center 2012 holiday poster. It depicts Santa Claus riding a spacecraft from NASA's Commercial Crew Program as he delivers toys all o... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, a second firing of the escape hold down post has occurred during a pyrotechnic bolt test on the Orion ground test vehicle. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3008

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at N...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, a second firing of the escape hold down post has occurred during a pyrotechnic bolt test on the Orion ground... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Orion ground test vehicle sits on a test stand in the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida while engineers and technicians prepare it for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3007

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Orion ground test vehicle sits on a test s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Orion ground test vehicle sits on a test stand in the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida while engineers and technicians prepare it for a pyrote... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The umbilical will be partially reutilized for the Orion Service Module Unit. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3013

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Develop... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The umbilical will be partially reutilized for the Orion Service Module Unit. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3011

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Develop... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Engineers in a control center at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida monitor a test on the quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical at the Launch Equipment Test Facility. The test is being performed by the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program. The umbilical will be partially reutilized for the Orion Service Module Unit. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3012

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Engineers in a control center at the Launch Eq...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Engineers in a control center at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida monitor a test on the quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and li... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The umbilical will be partially reutilized for the Orion Service Module Unit. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3015

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Develop... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The umbilical will be partially reutilized for the Orion Service Module Unit. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3014

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Develop... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The umbilical will be partially reutilized for the Orion Service Module Unit. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3010

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The quick disconnect for a modified instrument unit and liquid hydrogen tilt up umbilical is being tested at the Launch Equipment Test Facility by engineers in the Ground Systems Develop... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, several of the reaction control system roll and yaw thrusters for the Orion crew module have been unpacked and placed on stands for 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3145

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, several of the reaction control system roll and yaw thrusters for the Orion crew module hav... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A Lockheed Martin technician performs tube welding on the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test 1 inside a clean room processing cell in the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3144

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A Lockheed Martin technician performs tube weld...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A Lockheed Martin technician performs tube welding on the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test 1 inside a clean room processing cell in the Operations and Checkout Building high ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Orion service module spacecraft adapter cone for Exploration Flight Test 1 has arrived for checkout and processing. Tooling and test fixtures have been attached to the cone. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3146

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 Orion service module spacecraft adapter cone for Exploration Flight Test 1 has arrived ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test 1 sits inside a clean room processing cell in the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3143

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Te...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test 1 sits inside a clean room processing cell in the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Orion service module spacecraft adapter cone for Exploration Flight Test 1 has arrived for checkout and 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3147

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 Orion service module spacecraft adapter cone for Exploration Flight Test 1 has arrived ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test 1 sits inside a clean room processing cell in the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3142

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Te...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test 1 sits inside a clean room processing cell in the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, components of the Orion service module composite panel aft walls have been secured on work stands for 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 first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2013-3141

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, components of the Orion service module composite panel aft walls have been secured on work ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As seen on Google Maps, a Space Shuttle Main Engine, or SSME, stands inside the Engine Shop at Orbiter Processing Facility 3 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Each orbiter used three of the engines during launch and ascent into orbit. The engines burn super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and each one produces 155,000 pounds of thrust. The engines, known in the industry as RS-25s, could be reused on multiple shuttle missions. They will be used again later this decade for NASA's Space Launch System rocket. Google precisely mapped the space center and some of its historical facilities for the company's map page. The work allows Internet users to see inside buildings at Kennedy as they were used during the space shuttle era. Photo credit: Google/Wendy Wang KSC-2013-3238

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As seen on Google Maps, a Space Shuttle Main En...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As seen on Google Maps, a Space Shuttle Main Engine, or SSME, stands inside the Engine Shop at Orbiter Processing Facility 3 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Each orbiter used three of the... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are transferred by floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3266

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are transferred by floating d... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3270

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a fl... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are secured on a floating dock system for transfer to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3268

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are secured on a floating doc... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are secured on a floating dock system for transfer to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2103-3267

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are secured on a floating doc... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3265

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a fl... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred from a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3273

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred from a ... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3272

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a fl... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred from a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3276

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred from a ... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3271

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a fl... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, a floating dock system carries the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test aboard a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3263

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, a floating dock system carries the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery tes... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3264

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a fl... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred from a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3274

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred from a ... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred from a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3275

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred from a ... More

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a floating dock system to a U.S. Navy ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module and forward bay cover on its return from a deep space mission. The stationary recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a controlled environment before conducting a second recovery test next year in open waters. 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 a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3269

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Resear...

HAMPTON, Va. – At the Naval Station Norfolk near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Orion boilerplate test article and support equipment for a stationary recovery test are being transferred on a fl... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Social media participants are briefed on the Space Launch System rocket by Stu McClung, NASA's deputy manager of the Orion Production Office. They were on hand for the upcoming launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN, mission. Their visit included tours of key facilities at the Florida Spaceport and participating in presentations by key NASA leaders who updated the space agency's current efforts. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossman KSC-2013-3973

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Social media participants are briefed on the S...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Social media participants are briefed on the Space Launch System rocket by Stu McClung, NASA's deputy manager of the Orion Production Office. They were on hand for the upcoming launch of... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Social media participants are briefed on the Space Launch System rocket by Stu McClung, NASA's deputy manager of the Orion Production Office. They were on hand for the upcoming launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN, mission. Their visit included tours of key facilities at the Florida Spaceport and participating in presentations by key NASA leaders who updated the space agency's current efforts. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossman KSC-2013-3976

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Social media participants are briefed on the S...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Social media participants are briefed on the Space Launch System rocket by Stu McClung, NASA's deputy manager of the Orion Production Office. They were on hand for the upcoming launch of... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends take a moment to enjoy the view. From left are Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, Center Director Bob Cabana, Apollo 11 command module pilot Mike Collins, and Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin's son Andy Aldrin. The group is at Kennedy for a ceremony renaming the Operations and Checkout Building for Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Neil Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Michael Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3196

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA o...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends take a moment to enjoy the view. From left are Apollo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Bob Cabana, at right, briefs Apollo astronauts on the changes underway to Launch Pad 39B. From left are NASA administrator Charles Bolden, Apollo astronauts Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins, and Cabana. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3189

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Bob Cabana, at right, briefs Apollo astronauts on the changes underway to Launch Pad 39B. From left are NASA administrator Charles... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, work is underway to transform the center into a multi-user spaceport. Launch Pad 39B, in the foreground, is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. On April 14, NASA signed a property agreement with SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., for use and occupancy of Launch Pad 39A, in the distance, to serve as a platform to support SpaceX's future launch activities. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3194

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, work i...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, work is underway to transform the center into a multi-user spaceport. Launch Pad 39B, in the foreground, is being modified to support the agency's... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends preserve the moment with a group portrait. The group was at Kennedy for a ceremony renaming the Operations and Checkout Building for Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon. From left are NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, Neil's son Mark Armstrong, Neil's granddaughter Lily Armstrong, Neil's son Rick Armstrong, Neil's grandson Bryce Armstrong, Neil's former wife Janet Armstrong, Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, and Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Neil Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Michael Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3190

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA o...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends preserve the moment with a group portrait. The group ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials showcase the modifications underway at Launch Pad 39 B to Apollo astronauts visiting the center. From left are NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Apollos 8 and 13 astronaut Jim Lovell, Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins, and Center Director Bob Cabana. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3187

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA o...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials showcase the modifications underway at Launch Pad 39 B to Apollo astronauts visiting the center. From left are NASA Administrator C... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends preserve the moment with a group portrait. The group was at Kennedy for a ceremony renaming the Operations and Checkout Building for Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon. From left are NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Neil's former wife Janet Armstrong, Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, Mike Collins' daughter Ann Starr, Apollo 11 command module pilot Mike Collins, and Center Director Bob Cabana. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Neil Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Michael Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3192

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NAS...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends preserve the moment with a group portrait. The gro... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Apollo astronauts, from left, Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins pause during their tour of Launch Pad 39B for a group portrait. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3188

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Apollo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Apollo astronauts, from left, Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins pause during their tour of Launch Pad 39B for a group portrait. The pad is ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the family of Neil Armstrong poses for a group portrait in front of the refurbished Operations and Checkout Building. From left are Armstrong's son Mark, his former wife Janet, his granddaughter Lily, his son Rick and his grandson Bryce. Armstrong, an Apollo 11 astronaut, was the first person to set foot on the moon and for whom the facility is newly named. The building's high bay is being used to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft, which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell KSC-2014-3202

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the fa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the family of Neil Armstrong poses for a group portrait in front of the refurbished Operations and Checkout Building. From left are Armstrong's so... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Robert Cabana, left, briefs Apollo astronauts Jim Lovell, center, and Mike Collins, right, on the changes underway to Launch Pad 39B. Behind them are the astronauts' families and friends. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, the Apollo 11 astronauts landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3197

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Robert Cabana, left, briefs Apollo astronauts Jim Lovell, center, and Mike Collins, right, on the changes underway to Launch Pad 3... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, visiting Apollo astronauts have a group portrait taken in front of the refurbished Operations and Checkout Building, with the family of Neil Armstrong, the Apollo 11 astronaut who was the first person to set foot on the moon and for whom the facility is newly named. From left are Apollo 11 astronauts Mike Collins and Buzz Aldrin, Armstrong's former wife Janet, his son Rick, his granddaughter Lily, his son Rick, his grandson Bryce, and Apollo 8 and 13 astronaut Jim Lovell. The building's high bay is being used to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft, which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell KSC-2014-3201

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, visiti...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, visiting Apollo astronauts have a group portrait taken in front of the refurbished Operations and Checkout Building, with the family of Neil Armst... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Robert Cabana, left, briefs Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldren, right, on the changes underway to Launch Pad 39B. Behind them are the visiting Apollo astronauts' families and friends.The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, the Apollo 11 astronauts landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3198

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Robert Cabana, left, briefs Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldren, right, on the changes underway to Launch Pad 39B. Behind them are the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA administrator Charles Bolden, at right, enjoys an unobstructed view of the flame trench on Launch Pad 39B with Apollo astronauts and their families and friends. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, the Apollo 11 astronauts landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3195

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA administrator Charles Bolden, at right, enjoys an unobstructed view of the flame trench on Launch Pad 39B with Apollo astronauts and their fa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts have a group portrait taken in front of the refurbished Operations and Checkout Building, newly named for Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon. From left are NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Apollo astronauts Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell, and Center Director Robert Cabana. The building's high bay is being used to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft, which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell KSC-2014-3199

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA o...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts have a group portrait taken in front of the refurbished Operations and Checkout Building, newly named for Apo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends preserve the moment with a group portrait. The group was at Kennedy for a ceremony renaming the Operations and Checkout Building for Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon. From left are NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Neil's granddaughter Lily Armstrong, Neil's grandson Bryce Armstrong, Neil's son Mark Armstrong, Neil's former wife Janet Armstrong, Neil's son Rick Armstrong, Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, Buzz's friend Judy Rice, Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, Mike Collins' daughter Ann Starr, Apollo 11 command module pilot Mike Collins, Buzz's grandson Jeffrey Schuss, Jeffrey's wife April Schuss, Buzz's son-in-law Bruce Hanifan, Buzz's daughter Jan Aldrin, Buzz's son Andy Aldrin, and Center Director Bob Cabana. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Neil Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Michael Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3193

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NAS...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends preserve the moment with a group portrait. The gro... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends preserve the moment with a group portrait. The group was at Kennedy for a ceremony renaming the Operations and Checkout Building for Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon. From left are NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin's grandson Jeffrey Schuss, Jeffrey's wife April Schuss, Neil's former wife Janet Armstrong, Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, Buzz's son-in-law Bruce Hanifan, Buzz's daughter Jan Aldrin, Buzz's son Andy Aldrin, Apollo 11 command module pilot Mike Collins, and Center Director Bob Cabana. The pad is being modified to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Neil Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Michael Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3191

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NAS...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA officials and Apollo astronauts visiting Launch Pad 39B with their families and friends preserve the moment with a group portrait. The gro... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, visiting Apollo astronauts have a group portrait taken in front of the refurbished Operations and Checkout Building, newly named for Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon. From left are Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell. The building's high bay is being used to support the agency's new Orion spacecraft, which will lift off atop the Space Launch System rocket. Orion is designed to take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before, serving as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronauts to deep space and sustain the crew during travel to destinations such as an asteroid or Mars. The visit of the former astronauts was part of NASA's 45th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing. As the world watched, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin landed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility aboard the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969. Meanwhile, crewmate Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia. For more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-honors-historic-first-moon-landing-eyes-first-mars-mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell KSC-2014-3200

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, visiti...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, visiting Apollo astronauts have a group portrait taken in front of the refurbished Operations and Checkout Building, newly named for Apollo 11 ast... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of the news media get an up-close look at the new mobile launcher. The Space Launch System rocket will be stacked on the launcher inside the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to rollout to Launch Pad 39B atop crawler-transporter 2. 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 flight test of Orion is scheduled to launch Dec. 4, 2014 atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, and in 2018 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-4622

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, memb...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of the news media get an up-close look at the new mobile launcher. The Space Launch System rocket will be stacked on the launcher inside... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of the news media tour the spaceport's Vehicle Assembly Building VAB. Like the Apollo Saturn V and space shuttles of the past, the Space Launch System rocket will be stacked and checked out in the VAB prion to being rolled to the launch pad. 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 flight test of Orion is scheduled to launch Dec. 4, 2014 atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, and in 2018 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-4619

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, memb...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of the news media tour the spaceport's Vehicle Assembly Building VAB. Like the Apollo Saturn V and space shuttles of the past, the Space... More

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