The Orion ship won't fly until 2014

नासा का कहना है कि स्पेस शटल की जगह लेने वाले ओरियन अंतरिक्षयान का तकनीकी कठिनाइयों और बजट की कमी के कारण 2014 तक प्रक्षेपण नहीं किया जाएगा. इसका मतलब पिछले शटल मिशन और नए यान की उड़ान के बीच चार साल का अंतराल रहेगा. मैट गैरेथ की रिपोर्ट...

रिपोर्ट सुनिए

With the three remaining space shuttles due to retire in 2010, NASA had hoped to have the Orion replacement craft on the launch pad by 2013. But now, they say, the window of opportunity to accelerate the project has closed, and the first mission is likely to be a trip to the International Space Station in September 2014.

NASA had hoped that additional funding from the US congress would have allowed an earlier launch but this has not been authorised. The delay means that the United States will be dependant on the Russian space agency to ferry crews to the ISS for almost four years.

Launched on top of a two stage Ares rocket, the Orion space craft is a crucial part of NASA's vision for the future, as it will be part of the programme that includes returning astronauts to the moon by 2020.

The Constellation program, as it is called, has come in for strong criticism  on the grounds of safety. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel said the new vehicle might not be capable of providing adequate protection against hazards that will only come to light once the spacecraft is in operation. NASA, according to the report, was not putting enough emphasis on safety and reliability, and the program was facing difficulties with money, morale and leadership.

Matt McGrath, BBC

आवाज़ सुनिए

due to retire
सेवा से बाहर होने को तैयार

on the launch pad
अंतरिक्ष में जाने को तैयार

to accelerate
शीघ्रता लाना, तेज़ी लाना

additional funding
अतिरिक्त राशि, पहले के मुक़ाबले अधिक धनराशि

to ferry crews
अंतरिक्षयात्रियों को अंतरिक्ष में ले जाने वाला

a crucial part of NASA's vision
नासा की दीर्घकालीन योजना का एक अहम हिस्सा

come in for strong criticism
भारी आलोचना का शिकार

on the grounds of safety
सुरक्षा कारणों से

come to light
ज़ाहिर हो जाना

putting enough emphasis on
प्राथमिकता के तौर पर लेना