Following NASA's Space Shuttle, the space agency's newest spacecraft Orion that is set to bring the first explorers to Mars, will apparently not fly astronauts soon as expected.
NASA officials revealed on Wednesday, September 16, that they are not confident enough to launch the mission on the original set date of 2021. This can also be considered part of the space agency's history in experiencing unexpected issues in new programs such as the Orion.
To date, managers are now setting the new launch date to 2023 for the space capsule where they announced that they have not entirely given up on the 2021 deadline.
Orion is expected to bring the first human explorers beyond our system, targeting Mars. The space capsule measures 11 feet and will be launched into space on top of a powerful Space Launch System rocket that is still currently under development by NASA. The first unmanned test flight of the Orion including the new SLS rocket is scheduled for 2018.
Even if the space capsule had a successful first test flight last December, NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot says that there are still too many factors and variables in the future to calculate, in order to meet the 2021 launch deadline. He also revealed to media that the space agency does not have a very high confidence level for this mission.
NASA typically encounters software development issues that can cause inevitable delays including the reuse of test hardware. However, Lightfoot says that there are still no setbacks yet in those departments, where these problems could pop up, calling them "unknown unknowns".
NASA will spend US $6.77 billion in development starting this October to Orion's first crewed flight, not extending over 2023. Since the space capsule can hold four astronauts, the first manned flight will involve testing its crew systems in lower Earth orbit especially its life support system.
The second crewed mission will involve the Orion travelling deeper into space such as the far side of the moon, reveals NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operations, William Gerstenmaier.
To date, NASA is focused on the Orion and SLS space missions while they granted contracts to private space companies such as SpaceX and Boeing to launch cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station. The ultimate goal of the private space companies is to develop commercial crew vehicles for astronauts by 2017 since Russia is currently providing transport to all American astronauts to the space station.