NASA Shows Off Mock-Up of Mars-Capable Spacecraft

N!NJA writes with this snippet of a report from Reuters: "NASA gave visitors to the National Mall in Washington a peek at a full-size mock-up of the spacecraft designed to carry US astronauts back to the moon and then on to Mars one day. The design of Orion was based on the Apollo spacecraft, which first took Americans to the moon. Although similar in shape, Orion is larger, able to carry six crew members rather than three, and builds on 1960s technology to make it safer." They're still working on the parachute.

"builds on 1960s technology to make it safer"

[Dystopian Rebel]

Would that be the large, unmarked banks of blinking square lights, the female voice that always says "Insufficient Data" followed by a dramatic orchestral chord, or the engine that the chief engineer can only repair 10 seconds before destruction?

Mock-up!

[Thanshin]

"Hey! I just touched it and this piece fell off!"

"Hmm... It's... a Mock-up?... Yeah! It's a Mock-up!"

Yes

[Anonymous Coward]

We'll be at Alpha centuri in a few years, if all goes well.

Re:Yes

[Shakrai]

We'll be at Alpha centuri in a few years, if all goes well.

Nah, I prefer to win the game by global conquest. It's much more entertaining to pour all of your resources into armies, fleets and aircraft than spaceship components. Those fucking Celts will soon pay for sacking Athens back in 3400 BC, muhahahahahahahahaha.

Princess Leia :

[That_Dan_Guy]

"You came in that thing?, Youâ(TM)re braver than I thought"

Re:Nuclear?

[JustOK]

They were going to name it SpaceShip Colbert, but their plans were ruined.

Re:"builds on 1960s technology to make it safer"

[K. S. Kyosuke]

They call it "Orion"? The 1960s technology? I have a pretty good idea how it might turn out - like this [lycos.de].

Re:Princess Leia :

[Anonymous Coward]

That unwanted (TM) is strangely appropriate when referencing Star Wars (TM).

Re:I'm confused

[bloodninja]

No, they're replacing the obsolete 1980s technology (shuttles) with modern, 1960s technology. It's progress.

No, no, Progress is Russian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_spacecraft [wikipedia.org]

Re:"builds on 1960s technology to make it safer"

[Anonymous Coward]

No, they're afraid of the Cylons hacking into their systems so nothing is networked...

Conspiracy?

[2gravey]

This mock up will come in quite handy when they fake the Mars landing.

Re:Looks cosy

[bpsbr_ernie]

Obviously, they are going to use the technology developed in 1967 that let them freeze Austin Powers. So, they will be in cryogenic stasis, reducing the need for food and other niceties like toilets.

Re:Looks cosy

[AliasMarlowe]

Not sure that I would want to be stuck in that with 5 other people for two years.

With enough viagra, lube, and toys, a crew of 3 guys + 3 gals might just survive. Exhausted, to be sure, but in pretty good spirits.

Re:Looks cosy

[fataugie]

So, they'd tow it to Mars?
Like a freakin family on Vacation to the Catskills?

I hope they shape the trailer like one of those old Airstreams....that would be cool.

Re:1960s safety?

[Anonymous Coward]

Ah, am I the only one reading this and questioning just exactly what the hell we have been paying NASA Engineers millions of dollars for over the last 45 years?

No there are plenty of other idiots posting in this story.