The US space agency's Orion space capsule blasted off from earth on Friday on its first journey into orbit, in a key test flight before carrying people to deep space destinations like the Moon and Mars in the coming years. Here's what you need to know about the Orion mission.

About Orion

It has been more than a generation that NASA has built a spacecraft to transport astronauts into space. The last time humans ventured into space beyond Low-Earth's orbit (an orbit around the earth) was the landing on the moon. Apollo 11 was the space flight that landed humans on the Moon on July 20, 1969. The Orion spacecraft is built to satisfy our curious need for deep space exploration. It's destination includes near earth asteroids, Earth's moon, the moons of Mars and eventually Mars itself.

Orion is touted to be the safest and most advanced spacecraft to ever have been built. It is flexible and capable enough to take humans to a variety of destinations including landing on an asteroid, and into interstellar space. Low Earth Orbit is where the International Space Station (ISS) currently flies.It is where the Hubble telescope, communication satellites, spy satellites and earth observing satellite also currently fly.

Source: NASA's official channel on youtube.com

Space exploration capabilities

The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) provides never before seen or experienced human space exploration capability. Orion is also capable of transporting crew and cargo to the ISS. Orion can remain docked at the ISS for upto six months. It also has the ability to stay in orbit around the moon, unattended without an astronaut on board for the duration of a lunar surface visit that could last up to half an Earth year.

Also Read:Nasa successfully launches Orion spacecraft; first step towards human expedition to Mars

Image Source: Reuters

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All you need to know about NASA's spacecraft Orion and it's mission