What will Replace the Space Shuttle?
The destruction of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003 prompted the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to look for alternative methods of space travel. The vehicle that is slated to replace the space shuttle is the Constellation Orion produced by Lockheed Martin. The Orion appears very similar to the Apollo spacecraft of the 1960s, although it is larger and much more advanced. Orion will hold a four man crew whose primary goal is research. Unlike previous lunar missions, all four crew members will leave the craft in orbit to travel to the surface of the moon. Orion has sometimes been called “Apollo on steroids” because of its similar appearance to the original lunar craft. In many basic ways, it is much more similar to Apollo than the current space shuttle. Orion is shaped like a cone and features a capsule that will parachute to safety upon its return to Earth, rather than the space shuttle’s airplane like landing. The plans for Orion have it measuring 16.5 feet (5 me
