The first flight of the Orion command module is scheduled for Thursday Dec. 4 with the launch window opening at 7:05 AM EST.
Here's the NASA article
http://www.nasa.gov/content/orion-poised-for-first-trip-to-space/#.VH8xezHF_Io

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

I want to go on that ship...

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rOZZ
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Both wind gusts and technical issues have disappointed thousands of tourists and space enthusiasts who wanted to see this event. No news yet on a time for another try that I can find.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/delays-postpone-nasas-orion-manned-capsule-test-launch/story-fnjwlcze-1227144221145

Cheers.

Launch set for..

The first flight test of Orion, NASA’s next-generation spacecraft capable of sending astronauts on future missions to an asteroid and the journey to Mars, now is scheduled to launch Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:05 a.m. EST, atop a ULA Delta IV Heavy from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA TV coverage begins at 6 a.m. There is a two-hour, 39-minute launch window. A Thursday attempt was scrubbed due to valve issues that could not be remedied before the launch window closed.

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People are now talking about this ship will go to Mars--Just how did they solve the COSMIC RAY problem--perhaps we are talking about unmanned ventures ??

Someone enlighten me please.

People are now talking about this ship will go to Mars--Just how did they solve the COSMIC RAY problem--perhaps we are talking about unmanned ventures ??

Someone enlighten me please.

This will most likely be the vehicle that NASA uses once the radiation and other mission killing issues are resolved. I still think a manned mission to Mars is at least 50 years away, assuming the world order doesn't collapse before then.

Sooner or later I think those in charge will realise that in order to keep a trained cadre of astronauts on the payroll missions to the moon will have to fill in the gap.

And, as far as just sending men to Mars just to orbit the planet, I think that idea is absurd.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

anybody remember this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkOT3IngMQ
:D

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non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU

Perfect launch. I watched it initially on NASA TV and then went outside to watch until it was hidden by the clouds.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

The European science ministers in Luxembourg have authorized the development of the Ariane 6 launcher, which is mainly French, and Vega-C which a a France-Italy venture. Only Germany has no launcher project of its own.
Tullio

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And now a bulls eye splash down.
Almost like a walk in the park:)

The landing was perfect as it should have been being old technology just updated. It landed exactly the same way every manned launch from NASA did before the space shuttle. One giant leap backward as far as I am concerned. But I am glad it went off without a hitch. Loss of signal was much shorter than the old days.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

I just read where Orion won't fly again until 2018. At this rate we won't be able to recruit very many new members of the astronaut team. Why join up if the chances are you will never get a ride?

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Good luck with Orion 1 step forward 2 steps backward for space travel , going back to the 60's tech to reach Mars LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

And there going to go there in 2030 ok if you say so.

Go to the moon build a base there and even a hotel and we mite finally make space profitable and then we can try Mars

As Forrest Gump says "stupid is as stupid DOES"

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I agree Glenn. Building a hotel on the moon is totally doable, and soon. They've got to come up with something to keep an astronaut corps on the payroll. even if it's becoming astronaut spaceliner pilots. I'd much rather jump at a chance to go to the moon for a few weeks than spend years in space to only spend a few days on Mars.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

The thing is that the biggest cost to space travel ATM is getting away from our own atmosphere and even if they build a moon base they still have to get fuel up there to go further.

Whereas a Mars base would be much better (and economical) alternative as the elements are already there to make fuel (and many other things) to get even further out.

I did post a NASA study link quite a while back that explained it all, but I'm stuffed if I can find it now, though it did state that it wouldn't cost a great deal much more to get to Mars than what it presently does to get to the moon and would prove to be a much more viable option in the end to further space exploration.

Cheers.

The thing is that the biggest cost to space travel ATM is getting away from our own atmosphere and even if they build a moon base they still have to get fuel up there to go further.

Whereas a Mars base would be much better (and economical) alternative as the elements are already there to make fuel (and many other things) to get even further out.

I did post a NASA study link quite a while back that explained it all, but I'm stuffed if I can find it now, though it did state that it wouldn't cost a great deal much more to get to Mars than what it presently does to get to the moon and would prove to be a much more viable option in the end to further space exploration.

Cheers.

I think any study that claims that going to Mars and landing there is easier than going to the moon is highly flawed and extremely biased toward that goal. Not to mention the extreme difference in the time factor. The moon is only two days away, not 18 months. It is also very likely that the moon has all the raw materials on hand to make it possible to stay there long term by living off the land. Not immediately of course, but after several supply missions and the tools are assembled to build habitats people will be able to grow food and mine to moon for it's resources. I have seen claims that much of the valuable minerals that are mined here on earth came from asteroid and/or comet strikes. If that is true then the moon should have similar numbers of the same materials. Afterall it is pretty obvious that the moon has been struck as much as or more than the earth. Water may have evaporated in most cases after contact with the moon but not the rare metals and minerals that comprise most asteroids.

Mars isn't going anywhere, why rush? The possibility of failure with untried technologies is much greater on a trip to Mars than one to the moon and it is much less likely that any sort of rescue mission to Mars could be mounted or would succeed. On the other hand a less than catastrophic mishap on the moon could be dealt with in a matter of days.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.