Lockheed Martin crews begin uncovering the Orion ground test vehicle in the Launch Equipment Test Facility or LETF.

At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Lockheed Martin crews begin uncovering the Orion ground test vehicle in the Launch Equipment Test Facility, or LETF. The GTA was moved from the Operations and Checkout Facility to the LETF for a series of pyrotechnic bolt tests. The GTA is being used for path finding operations in the O&C, including simulated manufacturing and assembly procedures.

Launching atop NASA's heavy-lift Space Launch System SLS, which also is under development, the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle MPCV will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry astronaut crews beyond low Earth orbit. It also will provide emergency abort capabilities, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Jim Grossman