Date: August 23rd 2006

Aug 22, 2006

Michael Braukus/Beth Dickey Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1979/2087

Kelly Humphries Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111

RELEASE: 06-299

NASA NAMES NEW CREW EXPLORATION VEHICLE ORION

NASA announced Tuesday that its new crew exploration vehicle will be named Orion

Orion is the vehicle NASA's Constellation Program is developing to carry a new generation of explorers back to the moon and later to Mars Orion will succeed the space shuttle as NASA's primary vehicle for human space exploration

Orion's first flight with astronauts onboard is planned for no later than 2014 to the International Space Station Its first flight to the moon is planned for no later than 2020

Orion is named for one of the brightest, most familiar and easily identifiable constellations

"Many of its stars have been used for navigation and guided explorers to new worlds for centuries," said Orion Project Manager Skip Hatfield "Our team, and all of NASA - and, I believe, our country - grows more excited with every step forward this program takes The future for space exploration is coming quickly "

In June, NASA announced the launch vehicles under development by the Constellation Program have been named Ares, a synonym for Mars The booster that will launch Orion will be called Ares I, and a larger heavy-lift launch vehicle will be known as Ares V

Orion will be capable of transporting cargo and up to six crew members to and from the International Space Station It can carry four crewmembers for lunar missions Later, it can support crew transfers for Mars missions

Orion borrows its shape from space capsules of the past, but takes advantage of the latest technology in computers, electronics, life support, propulsion and heat protection systems The capsule's conical shape is the safest and most reliable for re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, especially at the velocities required for a direct return form the moon

Orion will be 16 5 feet in diameter and have a mass of about 25 tons Inside, it will have more than 2 5 times the volume of an Apollo capsule The spacecraft will return humans to the moon to stay for long periods as a testing ground for the longer journey to Mars

NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, manages the Constellation Program and the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala , manages the Exploration Launch Projects' office for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, Washington

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www nasa gov/home

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