NASA’S ORION 

SPACECRAFT

NASA is building a sustainable presence on and around the Moon as part of the

Artemis Program. The journey begins with the Orion spacecraft – NASA’s next

generation spaceship that will launch atop the world’s most powerful rocket to

take astronauts on a journey of exploration to the Moon and on to Mars. Orion

is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Space

Launch System rocket and the lunar Gateway.

To protect astronauts on these long-duration missions and return them safely to Earth, Orion engineers have

woven innovative technology, advanced systems and state-of-the-art thermal protection into the fabric of the

spacecraft. The team behind Orion has built upon the past 50 years of space exploration experience in human

spaceflight, launch operations, robotic precursor missions, in-space construction and mission management.
Launching from 

Kennedy Space 

Center in Florida Lunar Flyby 

Orion approaching 

the lunar Gateway

Returning to Earth at

25,000 MPH
Artemis I 

The Space Launch System rocket with Orion atop is targeted 

to launch from Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39B in 2022. Artemis I 

will send Orion on a path more than 40,000 miles beyond the 

moon over a course of three weeks, farther into space than 

human spaceflight has ever traveled before. The spacecraft will 

return to Earth and safely splash down in the Pacific Ocean off 

the coast of California. The mission will advance and validate 

capabilities required for human exploration of Mars.

Crew Module Pressure Vessel

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Heat Shield

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Service Module Structural Testing

Space Power Facility at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility

Jettison Motor Test

Sacramento, California

Service Module Flight Article

Bremen, Germany

Propulsion Qualification Module Testing

White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico

Human Rating Parachutes

Yuma, Arizona
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov

Space Launch 

System

The Space Launch System is a 

powerful launch vehicle, which will 

expand human presence to celestial 

destinations beyond low-Earth orbit 

and throughout the solar system. SLS 

is the only rocket that can send Orion, 

astronauts and supplies to the Moon on 

a single mission. 

Orion Spacecraft

Launch Abort System

The launch abort system, positioned 

on a tower atop the crew module, can 

activate within milliseconds to propel 

the vehicle to safety and position the 

crew module for a safe landing.

Crew Module 

The crew module is capable of 

transporting four crew members beyond 

the moon, providing a safe habitat from 

launch through landing and recovery. 

Inside the familiar deep-space capsule 

shape are advances in life support, 

avionics, power systems, and advanced 

manufacturing techniques.

Service Module 

Created in collaboration with ESA 

(European Space Agency), the service 

module provides support to the crew 

module from launch through separation 

prior to entry. It provides in-space 

propulsion for orbital transfer, power and 

thermal control, attitude control and high 

altitude ascent aborts. While mated with 

the crew module, it also provides water 

and air to support the crew.

Connect With Us

Facebook.com/NASAOrion

Twitter.com/NASA_Orion

Flickr.com/NASAOrion

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Space Launch System

Orion Spacecraft

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