Constellation plan

Constellation is a space exploration program being prepared by NASA.

The whole plan will include a series of new spacecraft, launch vehicles and related hardware, which will be used for various space missions, including the supply and transportation of the International Space Station and landing on the moon. The hardware used in most constellation plans will be based on the space shuttle model, although the core component Orion spacecraft (once called Crew Exploration Vehicle (CLV)) is greatly influenced by Apollo spacecraft and uses crew/service module system.

The carrier system of Constellation Plan will use both Earth orbit rendezvous and Moon orbit rendezvous at the same time as never before. The whole system includes three parts: Orion crew &; Service module (CSM), lunar surface entry module (LSAM) and Earth separation stage (EDS). The rockets used in the carrier system include Ares V, which launches unmanned facilities, Ares I, which will launch the Earth departure station with the lunar lander and other cargo, and Ares 1, which launches manned spacecraft.