NASA’s Orion capsule successfully lifted off on board a Delta IV heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral today – marking the start of mankind’s journey to Mars.
The Orion is the first deep-space capsule since the Apollo missions of the 60s and 70s, and launched from Cape Canaveral at 7.05am Eastern Time.
The craft will orbit the Earth twice, swinging out to a height of 3,600 miles up, before splashing down into the Pacific.
The launch was postponed yesterday due to winds, and sluggish response from the Delta IV rocket’s fuel valves.
Orion is first deep-space capsule since the Apollo missions of the 60s and 70s – the first step towards a manned mission to Mars.
The Orion capsule will eventually carry the first people to walk on Mars.
