The Constellation Program has disappeared, but the company continues to develop the Lockheed Martin Orion spacecraft on their own, now renamed as provisionally MPCV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle Crew) . The first prototype of the capsule and Lockheed Martin is in the Vertical Test Facility and also recently we have seen new images of a new center to test the features of the spacecraft in orbit.
The first Orion spacecraft (Lockheed Martin).
The installation, called Space Operations Simulation Center (SOSC), can test the communications and technical link between the Orion and the ISS. According to Lockheed Martin, with adequate funding the Orion will be ready for an initial test flight in 2013 and the first manned mission could be carried out in 2016. At this point it remains unclear whether NASA will develop the Orion / MPCV as surrogate manned shuttle or at least as an emergency craft for the ISS. If NASA finally decides not to proceed with the project, Lockheed Martin plans to propose the Orion, or a reduced version the same, as commercial aircraft. Remember that, today, the Orion is the only option available to NASA to develop a manned vehicle itself after the withdrawal of the shuttle .
Models of the Orion and the ISS in the center SOSC (Lockheed Martin).
And meanwhile, follows the dismantling of the launch pad 39B rotary structure RSS (Rotating Service Structure) Kennedy Space Center. According to the original plans of the Constellation Program, the ramp should be the first ready for release Ares I rocket, then canceled.
Ramp canceled 39B modified for Ares I (NASA).
The first Orion spacecraft (Lockheed Martin).
The installation, called Space Operations Simulation Center (SOSC), can test the communications and technical link between the Orion and the ISS. According to Lockheed Martin, with adequate funding the Orion will be ready for an initial test flight in 2013 and the first manned mission could be carried out in 2016. At this point it remains unclear whether NASA will develop the Orion / MPCV as surrogate manned shuttle or at least as an emergency craft for the ISS. If NASA finally decides not to proceed with the project, Lockheed Martin plans to propose the Orion, or a reduced version the same, as commercial aircraft. Remember that, today, the Orion is the only option available to NASA to develop a manned vehicle itself after the withdrawal of the shuttle .
Models of the Orion and the ISS in the center SOSC (Lockheed Martin).
And meanwhile, follows the dismantling of the launch pad 39B rotary structure RSS (Rotating Service Structure) Kennedy Space Center. According to the original plans of the Constellation Program, the ramp should be the first ready for release Ares I rocket, then canceled.
Ramp canceled 39B modified for Ares I (NASA).
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