NASA plans to launch its experimental spacecraft Orion on Thursday morning, atop a Delta IV rocket. The unmanned spacecraft, which is the prototype for a manned ship that will carry four astronauts to deep space, will orbit the Earth twice, reaching a distance of 3,600 miles above the planet. Lockheed Martin is the main contractor for the project. The launch is scheduled for 7:05 a.m. Eastern time, weather permitting. NASA plans to measure the effects of radiation on the interior of the spacecraft, and also test the heat shield during re-entry. The entire mission is expected to take about four and a half hours.
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