To the moon and beyond: Nasa's Orion capsule

Orion will become Nasa's primary vehicle for human space exploration after the shuttle retires in 2010. It will carry astronauts to the International Space Station and eventually to the moon and beyond

  • Schoolchildren gather around a mockup of the Orion crew exploration vehicle at the National Mall in Washington DC last month. The vehicle is scheduled to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015
    Constellation Program: Nasa Previews Model Of New Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle

  • The crew module of Orion with the outer skin removed to reveal the pressure shell and equipment bays
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft

  • Artist's impression of the Ares I crew launch vehicle (left) and Ares V cargo launch vehicle. Ares I will carry Orion into orbit, while Ares V will launch large-scale hardware
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft and Ares launch vehicles

  • Wind tunnel test demonstrating air flow over a model of the Ares V heavy cargo launch vehicle at Mach 4.5. Engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, are collecting aerodynamic data that will help them determine basic requirements for guidance, navigation and control of the vehicle
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft and Ares launch vehicles

  • The Orion spacecraft approaching the International Space Station (ISS)
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft approaching the International Space Station

  • Orion docked to the ISS
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft

  • The Ares V heavy-lift launch vehicle will put hardware needed for a moon mission into Earth orbit
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft

  • The Ares V Earth departure stage, docked with the Orion crew capsule and Altair lunar lander (yellow)
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft

  • Orion and Altair in orbit around the moon
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft

  • Altair will be capable of landing four astronauts on the moon, providing life support and a base for week-long surface exploration missions. Unlike the Apollo spacecraft, the new system won't require anyone to remain in orbit while the other astronauts work on the moon's surface. Altair will return the crew to the Orion spacecraft, which will bring them home
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft

  • Researchers try out a prototype lunar truck and K10 robot at Moses Lake, Washington state. 'One feature is its high mobility,' writes Nasa on its website. 'Each set of wheels can pivot individually in any direction, giving the vehicle the ability to drive sideways, forward, backward and any direction in between' – a bit like a supermarket trolley
    Constallation Program: Nasa Orion Moon exploration: Crew Mobility Chassis Prototype

  • Orion in lunar orbit with its solar arrays deployed
    Constellation Program: NASA Orion spacecraft

  • For its return to Earth, Orion will be equipped with a system of parachutes and shock absorbers
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft

  • Artist's impression of Orion touching down, air bags softening the impact
    Constellation Program: Nasa Orion spacecraft
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