Nasa to test-fly Orion capsule for the first time

The US space agency Nasa is about to see its Orion capsule flown for the very first time.

The conical ship has been designed to go beyond Earth to destinations such as asteroids, the Moon and Mars.

This animation illustrates what will happen on the maiden voyage, which will in this instance be unmanned.

The flight will demonstrate some key technologies, such as the heatshield and the return parachutes.