'Orion' Launch Getting Worldwide Attention
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (CBS4)- It's not only Coloradans anxiously awaiting the launch of Orion on Thursday, but excitement is growing worldwide. Orion is the test flight for a capsule that could take man back to the moon or even as far away as Mars.
Hotels in Cape Canaveral and communities surrounding Kennedy Space Center have been booked for about a month. When someone cancels that room is filled almost instantly.
"There is talk that hotels have been sold out all the way to Orlando so it's been a big deal when other hotels have contacted us if they have someone else they're trying to find a spot for and it's been full all over the place," said Country Inn & Suites Manager Landrew Hallstrom.
Not only are space fans flocking to the area to be a part of the historical event, but several cabinet members are also staying in the area.
There is renewed interest in the Orion Project because of the connection to Colorado.
The Orion's heat shield was made by the people at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, and United Launch Alliance in Centennial built the rocket that will lift it into space. The whole event will be able to be seen courtesy of flight cameras built buy Ball Aerospace in Broomfield.
PHOTO GALLERY: CBS4 Covers Orion Spacecraft Launch
The Colorado-built rocket will launch Orion into space in 17 minutes. The orbit will be 15 times further than the International Space Station, traveling 3,600 miles above Earth.
Thursday's flight is a test run, the first on its journey to Mars.
CBS4 will report live from Cape Canaveral beginning Wednesday. Watch the launch live on CBS4 Morning News on Thursday at 5 a.m.
LINKS: NASA-Orion | Lockheed Martin-Orion
