Nasa's Orion 'Mars ship' set for test flight

[Jax]

 

A US space capsule that could help get humans to Mars is about to make its maiden flight.

Orion will be launched on a Delta rocket out of Cape Canaveral in Florida on a short journey above the Earth to test key technologies.

The conical vessel is reminiscent of the Apollo command ships that took men to the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s, but bigger and with cutting-edge systems.

Given that this is a first outing, there will be no people aboard.

Nonetheless, the US space agency describes the demonstration as a major event.

Nasa has a window in which to launch Orion of about two-and-a-half hours, which began at 07:05 local time (12:05 GMT).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30234625

 

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[Jax]

08:26 (local time) has been given a new go.

[Jax]

Bugger! another abort.

[Jax]

Got to wait another day for the launch now.

[Jax]

Well if anyone is interested it has finally taken off.