Obama: Orion is un-mothballed for NASA

William Atkins
Wednesday, 14 April 2010 22:33

Science - Space

According to an announcement made by Lori Garver, NASA's deputy administrator, on Tuesday, April 13, 2010, President Barack Obama has decided to use the Orion space capsule, one part of the now defunct Constellation Program, as an on-board emergency escape system for the International Space Station.

 

 

According to the April 14, 2010 Wall Street Journal article White House Moves to Placate Critics of its NASA Plan, 'The concessions offered Tuesday are an attempt to win backing for the White House plan ahead of a trip by the president Thursday to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.'

And, 'There, Mr. Obama is expected to lay out details of the decision to use the Orion space capsule, developed by Lockheed Martin Corp., as an on-board emergency escape system for U.S. crews during their stays aboard the international space station.'

According to Ms. Garver, the president will make this announcement during a visit, later this week, to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This new use for the Orion space capsule will make it basically a vehicle that will provide an emergency escape from the station in case a serious problem occurs. The Soyuz space capsules are now used for this purpose.

 

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