NASA began Constellation in 2005 as an architecture for low-Earth-orbit missions, a return of people to the Moon, and preparation for further exploration. It combined Orion, the Ares launcher family, and the Altair lander concept.
The programme ended in 2010 after available funding proved insufficient for its original goals. Orion development continued and Space Launch System replaced Ares, making Constellation part of Artemis’ development lineage rather than a dead end.
Key facts
- The architecture included Orion, Ares I, Ares V, and the Altair lander concept.
- Ares I-X made a test flight in October 2009.
Context
- Period
- 2005–2010
- Status
- not realised
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Sources & further reading
- NASA History: Constellation’s development, cancellation, and the continuation of Orion and SLS.
- NASA NTRS: overview of Constellation elements and its technological legacy.
Spaceflightpedia. (n.d.). Constellation Program. Retrieved 15 October 2026, from https://spaceflightpedia.com/article/constellation-program
article text — CC-BY-SA · ◉ NASA photography — public domain · ✦ AI illustration — marked, generated from sources