Orion Spacecraft
Interactive 3D models of Orion, with the spacecraft fully integrated on the left and in exploded view on the right. Credit: Fac-tory-o.

Lockheed Martin has completed building the crew module capsule for Nasa’s Orion spacecraft for the first Artemis lunar mission.

The capsule has been stacked on top of the Orion service module.

The Orion spacecraft is designed to have unique capabilities like no other spacecraft.

According to Nasa, Artemis 1 will launch its Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket around the Moon to test the system and create the path for landing the first woman and the next man on the Moon in five years, as well as future missions to Mars.

Lockheed Martin Commercial Civil Space vice-president and general manager Lisa Callahan said: “Orion is a new class of spaceship, uniquely designed for long-duration deep space flight, that will return astronauts to the Moon and eventually take the first humans to Mars, and bring them all back safely.”

The completion of the Orion crew capsule work includes installation of the capsule’s avionic computers, harnesses, propulsion system and its 12 engines. It also includes the completion of the 16ft-diameter heat shield, forward bay cover and numerous other systems and components.

Lockheed Martin Orion programme manager Mike Hawes said: “The Artemis 1 flight will test the design and workmanship of the capsule and its service module during the three-week mission out around the Moon and back.”

Earlier last week, the crew module and service module were stacked together in the Final Assembly and System Testing (FAST) cell where they are now being fully integrated.

The FAST cell is same the exact location where the Apollo programme is used to stack the Command Module.

Upon Orion’s return to Kennedy by the end of this year, the spacecraft will undergo final preparations before Lockheed Martin delivers it to ground systems for launching it early in next year.