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Longmont Teen To Document Launch Of Colorado-Built 'Orion' On Social Media

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (CBS4)- The Colorado-built spacecraft Orion is set to launch Thursday morning. It's the test flight for a capsule that could take man back to the moon or even as far away as Mars. The event will be detailed moment by moment on social media.

Austin Braun
Austin Braun (credit: CBS)

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.

Orion2
(credit: CBS/NASA)

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.

Orion1
(credit: CBS/NASA)

Two Coloradans were chosen from thousands to be social media reporters to watch the launch and document every moment.

One of those reporters, Austin Braun, 19, from Longmont, is one of the youngest covering the launch at the Kennedy Space Center.

"I'm actually 19, I guess. I just turned 19 a week ago," said Braun. "It's an honor to be this young and doing this."

PHOTO GALLERY: CBS4 Covers Orion Spacecraft Launch

Braun is a self-described tech geek who believes it's a chance to witness history.

"Even with no sleep right now, running on fumes, it's still worth it," said Braun.

He arrived at the space center before the sunrise to pick up his credentials as a social media reporter.

Braun is one of more than 100 people hand-picked by NASA to cover the launch. He's been given a tour of the facility along with a chance to question some of the program's top engineers.

On Thursday, Braun will witness the launch which is considered an event that will chance the future of space exploration.

All of the testing is being done in preparation to carry six astronauts into space someday.

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

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