Constellation Program (NASA)

The NASA Constellation Program was an effort launched in the 2000s to develop new spacecraft and rockets for human space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Its goal was to return humans to the Moon, establish a sustainable presence, and eventually enable travel to Mars. The program included designing the Orion crew vehicle, new launch systems like the Ares rockets, and infrastructure to support long-duration missions. Although it was ultimately canceled in 2010 due to budget and technical issues, its assets and goals influenced subsequent NASA efforts toward deep space exploration.