Update 1: NASA Pushes Back Space Shuttle Successor To 2014

By Alice Turner
16:29, August 12th 2008

Due to NASA's allegedly tight budget, the Agency has announced that Orion, the spacecraft designed to replace the agency's space shuttle program, is currently slated for a 2014 first flight. Earlier, it was hoped that Orion could have its maiden flight in September 2013. Orion program manager Jeff Hanley told reporters that Orion's "window of opportunity" for a 2013 launch has closed.

Rick Gilbrech, NASA associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, cited NASA's tight budget and technical issues as the causes for the delay. However, Gilbrech said that no further delays are expected at this time and NASA is confident that it can reach the International Space Station on or before 2014, before the 2015 deadline set by Congress.

Orion will be similar in shape to the Apollo spacecraft, but significantly larger. The Apollo-style heat shield is the best understood shape for re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, especially when returning directly from the moon. Orion will be 5 meters (16.5 feet) in diameter and have a mass of about 22.7 metric tons (25 tons). Inside, it will have more than two-and-a-half times the volume of an Apollo capsule.

The larger size will allow Orion to accommodate four crew members on missions to the moon, and six on missions to the International Space Station or Mars-bound spacecraft.

A launch abort system atop the Orion capsule will be capable of pulling the spacecraft and its crew to safety in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or at any time during ascent.

Orion’s power and propulsion systems will be housed in a service module that will be mounted directly below the capsule, covering the entry heat shield during launch and in-space activities. A spacecraft adapter will connect the Orion capsule and service module to the launch systems.

Orion will be launched into low-Earth orbit by the Ares I crew launch vehicle. To maximize the crew’s safety, Orion and its abort system will be placed at the top of the Ares I rocket. The rest of the two-stage Ares I will be stacked vertically, below the crew vehicle. This design will virtually eliminate the possibility of debris from the booster striking Orion during ascent.

Orion will be able to remain docked to the station for up to six months, providing a means for the crew to return to Earth at any time. The spacecraft will have the ability to stay in lunar orbit untended for the duration of a lunar surface visit that could be up to six months.

Orion will be capable of carrying pressurized cargo to the space station on unpiloted missions.

However, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel said in a report that the program faces money, morale and leadership problems. The Panel's 143-page annual report says that the agency's design of the Orion crew capsule did not put safety first, as in previous spacecraft designs. Created after the deadly 1967 Apollo 1 fire, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel is made of experts and former astronauts.

Jeff Hanley said as a response that the design is not done yet, and it is impossible to please everyone. However, he acknowledged that he had not seen the safety panel's report yet.