4 Dec 2014

Nasa’s Orion ‘Mars ship’ launch postponed for 24 hours

Nasa’s test flight of a capsule that could eventually bring humans to deep-space destinations like Mars has been postponed after problems with wind and misfiring valves.

The maiden launched of the Orion spacecraft was postponed for 24 hours after a series of delays.

A stuck rocket valve and strong winds have forced the team to call off today’s launch, a stray boat roaming into the launch danger zone also added to this morning’s difficulties.

Unable to resolve the problem before the end of their two-and-a-half hour launch period, Orion’s test flight was postponed.

Tomorrow Orion is expected to be catapulted around the earth on a short journey before it re-enters the atmosphere at a speed of over 20,000 miles per hour.

Orion’s launch – another giant leap in human space flight

The Orion spacecraft, built for NASA by Lockheed Martin, is an unmanned capsule designed to carry astronauts deeper into space than ever before.

Officials hope that Orion could in the future take astronauts as far as Mars.

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