What's Next?
Not since the development of the Space Shuttle has the U.S. space industry undertaken the development of a major space launch system for the purpose of human space exploration. With a launcher and crew vehicle in early development stages, NASA is reaching into history to deliver the next family of space vehicles for the future.

Called Constellation, this new family of space vehicles will work together to return humans to the Moon and take them on to explore Mars and beyond. Consisting of several components including heavy and medium lift launch systems, crew and cargo vehicles, and a lunar lander, their basic designs are being heavily influenced by heritage NASA space systems.

USA is a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin Corp. and on the Orion Crew Vehicle Team we are taking our operations expertise gained from the Shuttle and International Space Station and applying this knowledge to help the team "design in" critical capabilities for this system.

USA has additional work with ATK Launch Systems Group, also providing its operations expertise and knowledge of the Solid Rocket Booster system as they work with NASA to design and develop Ares I, the Crew Launch Vehicle's first stage.

NASA's predecessor human space flight programs can be credited for providing the Constellation program with a significant legacy of technology, systems and operational expertise that will help NASA and industry meet the challenges of the Vision for Space Exploration.

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