[EFT-1] Orion Mounted to Delta IV Heavy Rocket for EFT-1
- 9 years ago
After arriving at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37 early Nov. 12, NASA’s Orion spacecraft was hoisted in the air and secured to a United Launch Alliance Delta IV
Heavy rocket. The stage is set for Orion’s uncrewed flight test on Dec. 4. The Delta rocket will send Orion on a two orbit, 4.5 hour flight designed to test many of the spacecraft systems critical to safety before Orion begins carrying astronauts to deep space destinations in the future. Orion will fly 60,000 miles and reach a height of 3,600 miles above Earth before it re-enters the atmosphere at almost 20,000 mph and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.
Heavy rocket. The stage is set for Orion’s uncrewed flight test on Dec. 4. The Delta rocket will send Orion on a two orbit, 4.5 hour flight designed to test many of the spacecraft systems critical to safety before Orion begins carrying astronauts to deep space destinations in the future. Orion will fly 60,000 miles and reach a height of 3,600 miles above Earth before it re-enters the atmosphere at almost 20,000 mph and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.