What is the difference between the Orion and Apollo?

Question

I understnad they both went to the moon but what is the difference?

Answer 1

As the other poster stated: The Orion has not yet been to the moon. We will retire the shuttle in 2010, complete the Orion by 2014, and go to the moon by 2020. On the Apollo, one person always had to stay inside and man the capsule. On the Orion, all the members can get out and walk around. There is an extreme size difference. The Orion is roughly 50% bigger than the Apollo. The Apollo flew at the tip of the Saturn V rocket; The Orion is going to fly on the tip of an Ares I and an Ares V will also fly up along side as the "heavy lifter" and bring up all supplies needed (ex lunar lander) for that said mission. It is up for discussion whether the Orion will land on land or water, but the Apollo capsule always splashed down in water. Nasa.gov is a great place to do some reading if you have other questions.

Answer 2

Orion has not yet been to the moon it is the ship currently in design to return the USA to the moon in 2020, first it will be used solely to service the ISS.  The Orion spacecraft is very similar in design to the Apollo vehicle, however, it will be larger than the Apollo vehicles, able to carry at most 6 passengers as opposed to the 3 people that Apollo could carry.  

This craft is also being designed to take man to Mars also, slated for around 2030 launch.

This site gives more information about the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Constellation Project that it is being designed for.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/conste...