Orion (spacecraft) facts for kids

This is an artist's idea of the Orion spacecraft.

The Orion spacecraft is a special vehicle built by Lockheed Martin for NASA. It's designed to carry up to six astronauts into space. Orion will mostly launch on a powerful rocket called the Space Launch System. However, its very first test flight, called EFT-1, used a different rocket, the Delta IV Heavy.

Orion will blast off from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. This is the same launchpad used by the famous Space Shuttle and the giant Saturn V rocket. Orion's main mission is to take humans farther than ever before, aiming for asteroids and even Mars!

The Story of Orion: How it Began

This picture shows the only launch of the Ares I rocket, called Ares I-X. It didn't carry an Orion spacecraft and didn't go into orbit.

An artist's drawing of the Space Launch System rocket in flight.

The idea for Orion first came about in 2004. It was part of a big space plan called the Constellation program. Back then, it was known as the Orion CEV (which stood for Crew Exploration Vehicle). The plan was for it to launch on a rocket called the Ares I.

At first, Orion was meant to fly to the International Space Station. There were also plans for it to travel to the Moon, Mars, or other places. For these longer trips, Orion would connect with other parts of a spacecraft launched by different Ares V rockets.

Changes to the Orion Program

On October 11, 2010, the Constellation program was stopped. But the idea of Orion didn't disappear! NASA started a new program and designed a new, even bigger rocket called the Space Launch System. Orion was also given a new name: the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. This new plan means Orion will now focus on taking astronauts to exciting new places like asteroids and Mars.

Images for kids

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  An early design of the Orion spacecraft capsule.

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  The crew module, where astronauts will sit.

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  Inside a model of the Orion spacecraft in October 2014.

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  Inside a model of the Orion crew module, set up for missions with astronauts.

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  Testing Orion's parachute system to make sure it lands safely.

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  A model of the Orion Crew Module at the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.

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  An artist's drawing of the Orion spacecraft, showing the European Service Module at the back.

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  The Orion capsule being moved before its first test in 2013.

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  NASA and military staff learning about an Orion model in a test pool.

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  The Orion Drop Test Article during a test on February 29, 2012.

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  A test article being lifted for the Pad Abort-1 flight test.

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  The Orion CEV design from 2009.

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  The Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) being tested at NASA Research Center.

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  An artist's idea of Orion (as designed then) orbiting the Moon.

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  The Delta IV Heavy rocket on the launchpad with Orion for the EFT-1 test flight.

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  An artist's idea of an astronaut collecting samples from an asteroid, with Orion in the background.

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  Orion getting close to the Gateway space station during the Artemis 3 mission.

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  An artist's drawing of the Orion CEV connected to a proposed vehicle for traveling to Mars.

See also

In Spanish: Orión (nave espacial) para niños