Lockheed-Built Orion Spacecraft Set for Dec. 4 Launch; Mark Geyer Comments

The Lockheed Martin-built Orion spacecraft is set for space launch on Dec. 4 to test its heat shield, parachutes, avionics and attitude control systems.

The spacecraft arrived at NASA‘s Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, where it was lifted 200 feet onto a United Launch Alliance rocket, NASA said Wednesday.

“We’ve put a lot of work into designing, building and testing the spacecraft to get it to this point and I couldn’t be prouder of the whole team,” said Mark Geyer, Orion program manager.

“Sending Orion into space will give us data that is going to be critical to improving the spacecraft’s design before we go to an asteroid and Mars,” he added.

Orion will undergo final testing and preparations at the Space Launch Complex for three weeks before the spacecraft enters flight test next month.

The spacecraft was completed in October and incorporates crew and service modules, a launch abort system and an adapter.