Three Delta IV boosters collectively generate 1.96 million pounds of thrust Orion capsule will undergo first test flight in December Comes as Nasa bosses reveal private contracts for shuttle replacement so they can concentrate on the project

By Mark Prigg for MailOnline

Published: 14:27 EST, 29 September 2014 | Updated: 16:28 EST, 29 September 2014

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Blastoff for the spacecraft which could one day take humans to Mars is set for the final countdown as Nasa begins assembling the giant rockets that will propel it into orbit.

The huge Delta IV Heavy rocket has been put together for the first time at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Floridaahead of a first test flight of the Orion capsule in December.

It will blast the experimental capsule in orbit - although the rockets are then expected to be replaced by Nasa's even bigger Space Launch system.

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Nasa starts assembling Delta IV Heavy rockets needed to test the Orion capsule