The United States is transitioning from a country that sends astronauts to orbit the Earth to a nation that sends humans out into the solar system. NASA is working to make this transition – from the Space Shuttle Program to the Constellation Program – seamless and safe. The agency is tapping existing people, processes, technology, infrastructure, facilities and equipment as much as possible to ensure Constellation's success.
All the while, the agency is committed to safely completing the remaining shuttle missions, including International Space Station assembly and Hubble Space Telescope servicing, key stepping stones in U.S. space exploration plans.
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., work is under way to transition Launch Complex 39B to launch the new Ares and Orion spacecraft, which will return humans to the moon.
Kennedy's Firing Room 1 and the Operations and Checkout Building are also being transitioned to Constellation, and work will begin soon to transition the massive Vehicle Assembly Building for future spacecraft processing.
