The good news is that the Orion capsule completed preliminary design review (PDR) on August 31. The bad news is that we may have two-year schedule slip if they decide to go with alternative booster, i.e. other then Ares I.
By contrast we this thing has been around since 2003. I believe contract award was in 2005. So we are are taking seven years to PDR. Compared to the orginal Apollo we were ready to fly by this point in spite of the delay due to the Apollo 1 disaster. I believe we have fully tested the Saturn IB booster by this point.
By 2015 or 2015 we will basically have just redeveloped the capability that we just gave up decades ago. Great progress!!
With this economy you are right! At this point I'm all for going ahead with Orion or the Russian my just take over the ISS!
Also, sorry about the 2015 or 2015. I intended to say 2015 or 2017 as there is take of a two year slip with they decide to drop the Ares I and go with another booster.
