# Orion

> crewed spacecraft designed for the Artemis program

**Wikidata**: [Q211727](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q211727)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/orion

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Orion**:

---

## Summary  
Orion is a crewed spacecraft designed for NASA's Artemis program, intended to carry astronauts to the Moon and beyond. It is a reusable space capsule developed by Lockheed Martin, with contributions from Airbus Defence and Space for its European Service Module. Orion replaces the earlier Crew Exploration Vehicle and represents NASA's next-generation human spaceflight capability.

## Key Facts  
- **Type**: Space capsule, crewed spacecraft, reusable spacecraft (reentry capsule)  
- **Mass**: 33,446 kg  
- **Diameter**: 5.03 meters  
- **Manufacturers**: Lockheed Martin (primary), Airbus Defence and Space (European Service Module)  
- **Inception**: August 22, 2006  
- **Part of**: Artemis program  
- **Replaces**: Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV)  
- **Shelf life**: 21.1 days (mission duration)  
- **Country of origin**: United States  
- **Twitter**: [@NASA_Orion](https://twitter.com/NASA_Orion) (verified, 761,095 followers as of 2023)  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Orion's role in the Artemis program?  
A: Orion serves as the crew capsule for NASA's Artemis missions, transporting astronauts to lunar orbit and eventually enabling human exploration of Mars.  

### Q: Is Orion reusable?  
A: Yes, Orion's reentry capsule is designed for reuse, though other components (like the service module) may be replaced between missions.  

### Q: How does Orion compare to Apollo spacecraft?  
A: Orion is larger and more advanced, with modern technology, longer mission durations (up to 21 days), and capabilities for deep-space exploration beyond the Moon.  

## Why It Matters  
Orion is central to NASA's ambitions for sustained human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. As the first crewed spacecraft designed for deep-space missions since Apollo, it enables lunar landings under Artemis and serves as a stepping stone for future Mars missions. Its reusable design and international collaboration (via Airbus's European Service Module) reflect a cost-effective, sustainable approach to space exploration. Orion also symbolizes a resurgence in crewed spaceflight after the retirement of the Space Shuttle program.  

## Notable For  
- **First uncrewed test flight**: Exploration Flight Test-1 (2014) using Orion 001.  
- **Artemis 1 mission**: First integrated flight with Space Launch System (SLS) in 2022, using Orion 002.  
- **Longest-duration crew-capable spacecraft**: Supports missions up to 21 days.  
- **International collaboration**: European Service Module provided by Airbus Defence and Space.  

## Body  
### Design and Specifications  
- **Class**: Modular space capsule with reusable reentry module.  
- **Mass**: 33,446 kg (total).  
- **Diameter**: 5.03 meters (crew module).  
- **Shelf life**: 21.1 days (maximum mission duration).  

### Development and Missions  
- **Inception**: Announced August 22, 2006, as part of NASA's Constellation program.  
- **Key milestones**:  
  - **Exploration Flight Test-1 (2014)**: Uncrewed test of Orion 001.  
  - **Artemis 1 (2022)**: Uncrewed lunar orbit test with Orion 002.  

### Manufacturers and Components  
- **Primary contractor**: Lockheed Martin.  
- **European Service Module**: Built by Airbus Defence and Space.  

### Related Entities  
- **Orion 001**: Crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1.  
- **Orion 002**: Crew module for Artemis 1.  
- **Orion Abort Test Booster**: Used for launch abort system testing.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Spacecraft",
  "name": "Orion",
  "description": "Crewed spacecraft designed for NASA's Artemis program.",
  "url": "https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/orion/index.html",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q203584",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(spacecraft)"
  ],
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Lockheed Martin"
  },
  "dateCreated": "2006-08-22",
  "weight": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "value": "33446",
    "unitText": "kilogram"
  }
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. BBC Things
4. [Source](http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/fs-2014-08-004-jsc-orion_quickfacts-web.pdf)
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File