That is the Orion spacecraft. As you say. A cargo tugboat.
Orion CEV & LSAM Aries missile launcher.
The CEV is for the moon landings.


Then the elegant Orion space Clipper - that is a beauty -

Then there is the Orion III SpacePlane.

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
TSRA, Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.
http://lufkinced.com/


cavelamb himself wrote:
Karl Townsend wrote:
The US space agency has plans to replace the aging shuttle fleet with
a new space vehicle Orion, set to launch in 2014.

The new spacecraft will pick up where the shuttle leaves off,
re-supplying the International Space Station, as well as undertaking
other space missions, including moon landings.


Has anyone seen hard information on the design of Orion? They
certainly must be well past the concept phase.

Karl



Looks like a slightly enlarged Apollo. 16 ft verses 11 diameter.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/orion/


http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006..._contract.html



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