The Orion Space Capsule: NASA's Next Spaceship (Photos)
Orion Space Capsule Rocket
The first test flight of the new rocket, which will be more powerful than NASA's mighty Saturn V moon rocket, is set for 2017.
Orion Space Capsule Solar Panels
The Solar Array on the Orion Space Capsule is recognizable in this artist's illustration of the space capsule.
Orion Service Panels Separation
Orion capsule's service panels separate and fall back to Earth after launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Dec. 5, 2014.
Exploration Flight Test 1
A Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA's Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 5, 2014 at 7:05 a.m. EST. [NASA's Orion Spacecraft: Full Coverage of First Test Flight
Exploration Flight Test 1
A Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA's Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 5, 2014 at 7:05 a.m. EST. [NASA's Orion Spacecraft: Full Coverage of First Test Flight
Exploration Flight Test 1
A Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA's Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 5, 2014 at 7:05 a.m. EST. [NASA's Orion Spacecraft: Full Coverage of First Test Flight
Exploration Flight Test 1
A Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA's Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 5, 2014 at 7:05 a.m. EST. [NASA's Orion Spacecraft: Full Coverage of First Test Flight
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!
Exploration Flight Test 1
Photographer Roger Guillemette took this photo of the launch of Orion spacecraft on Dec. 5, 2014, from a vantage point on the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building, 525 feet (160 m.) above the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Exploration Flight Test 1
Photographer Roger Guillemette took this photo of the launch of Orion spacecraft on Dec. 5, 2014, from a vantage point on the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building, 525 feet (160 m.) above the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Lift Off of NASA's First Orion Space Capsule
NASA's first Orion space capsule launches into space atop a Delta 4 Heavy rocket to begin Exploration Flight Test-1 from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Dec. 5, 2014.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.