What/Who: On Jan. 30, team members at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will celebrate the completion of the adapter that will connect NASA's new Orion spacecraft to a Delta IV rocket for Orion's first mission in September. News media are invited to attend.

David Beaman, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) Spacecraft Payload Integration manager; John Casper, Orion Special Assistant for Program Integration and former astronaut; and Larry Gagliano, Marshall's deputy project manager for the Orion Launch Abort System, will be available for interviews.

During Orion's first mission, called Exploration Flight Test-1, the spacecraft will travel to an altitude of approximately 3,600 miles above Earth's surface before re-entering the atmosphere traveling approximately 20,000 mph at temperatures above 4,000 degree Fahrenheit. The uncrewed flight will provide engineers with important data about Orion's heat shield and other elements, including the adapter's performance before it is flown in 2017 as part of the first SLS mission.

The completed adapter flight hardware will be shipped in mid-March from Marshall to United Launch Alliance's (ULA) facility in Decatur, Ala. ULA is constructing the Delta IV rocket for EFT-1. From there, it will travel by ship to Cape Canaveral in Florida ahead of Orion's mission.

Marshall team members have also fabricated over 100 pieces of Orion flight hardware, conducted several tests in Marshall labs of Orion's primary structure and Launch Abort System thermal protection material.

When: 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Building 4708

To attend: News media interested in attending should contact Kimberly Henry in Marshall's Public & Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later than 4 p.m. CST Wednesday, Jan. 29. Media interested in attending the employee event must report to the Redstone Arsenal Joint Visitor Control Center at Gate 9, Interstate 565 interchange at Rideout Road/Research Park Boulevard at 12:30pm.

Vehicles are subject to a security search at the gate. News media will need two photo identifications and proof of car insurance.

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Marshall Team Members to Celebrate Completion of Flight Hardware for Orion's First Mission