Orion voyage to test key technologies

A US space capsule that could help get humans to Mars is due to make its maiden flight later.

Orion will be launched on a Delta rocket out of Cape Canaveral in Florida on a short journey above the Earth to test key technologies.

Mike Hawes, the Orion programme manager at manufacturer Lockheed Martin, described the purpose of this first mission for the capsule to our correspondent Jonathan Amos.