What is NASA's Orion Mission and Why Should You Care?

[DaveC426913]

Is this new? Current? I've never heard of it before.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/orion/index.html

 

[erkokite]

Nope. Not new. The Orion CEV has been part of the Constellation project since its inception. I'm not sure where it will go now that Ares I has been canceled, but if I had to guess I suppose it will end up getting used on a Delta IV or Atlas V as part of a bid for NASA's COTS LEO manned program.

EDIT:
According to Wikipedia it will go on the Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle-Derived_Launch_Vehicle" )

 

[boneh3ad]

It is still current, but not new. It has been in the works for probably a decade. It's future is in question though in light of the cancellation of Constellation.