NASA said in February 15, 2017 that could be used for future Mars missions for the next generation of high thrust rocket space launch system and manned spacecraft, Orion will study in their first mission integration is equipped with the feasibility of an astronaut.
NASA deputy director Robert Wright Foote said in a memo that has asked the space agency responsible for affairs deputy director Bill Gus made a feasibility study to do mel.
According to the original plan, the first integrated flight mission of the launch vehicle for the deep space exploration mission, the launch system for space launch vehicle and the Orion of manned spacecraft, will take place at the end of 2018. At that time, the rocket will be launched from the Kennedy Space Center, sending the spacecraft to a stable orbit beyond the outer side of the moon. We will also release 13 microsatellites from the spacecraft for deep space exploration. The primary purpose of the mission was to test the performance of the integrated rocket and the spacecraft, and not to carry a manned flight.
If you want to add an astronaut on this mission, Lightfoot said, "the reason for review of technical feasibility and the need for additional resources and a large number of additional work" and challenge, therefore may need to adjust the launch date of the mission.
Lightfoot said: "President Trump said in his inaugural speech," we should solve the mystery of space. ". Therefore, the space agency must carry out the 'space launch system' and 'Orion' project effectively and safely. "
The mission of the United States to launch a manned mission to Mars before and after 2030 is the "top priority" in the US space program. The selected astronauts will start the training task this summer. The launch vehicle "space launch system" and the manned spaceship "Orion" are all important links in this plan.
The space launch system will be coming decades by relying on NASA's main carrier rocket, the capacity of more than the American moon project "Saturn 5" rocket, is still in the development and testing process. The "Orion" spacecraft will be the new generation of manned space vehicle in the United States after the space shuttle, and is currently in the test.