The BBC has an
article on this, aparantly the name Orion was to be kept a secret untill the CEV award on the 31st but the name got out after an astronaut on the ISS was prerecording an announcement that was then acidentaly broadcast.
Okay, I give up.
What ever became of "Altair" and "Artemis?" I don't think NASA has announced any usage of those names, have they?
Is Orion JUST the modern-day equivalent of the CSM, or does it cover the lander, too?
Ares I and Ares V are easy-enough to understand.
When viewed head-on the LM CEV with its round solar arrays is strikingly reminiscent of the three stars in Orion's belt. So one has to wonder which came first, the name or the round solar panels.
Did a LM employee say "Hey! They're going to call it Orion. Quick, put big round solar arrays on it and we're sure to lock up the contract!"?
Or did a NASA official say "Well it's looking like that mouse-eared LM proposal is going to win. Orion would sure be a cool name for it."?
Linden
Linden - 2/9/2006 2:33 PM
When viewed head-on the LM CEV with its round solar arrays is strikingly reminiscent of the three stars in Orion's belt. So one has to wonder which came first, the name or the round solar panels.
Did a LM employee say "Hey! They're going to call it Orion. Quick, put big round solar arrays on it and we're sure to lock up the contract!"?
Or did a NASA official say "Well it's looking like that mouse-eared LM proposal is going to win. Orion would sure be a cool name for it."?
Linden
Neither. Skip Hatfield explained the reason for the round solar arrays at the press conference. Naming has nothing to do with design, especially with NASA. It's just a coincidence I would imagine.
I knew I should have said I was just kidding in my first post.
Linden