http://www.nasa.gov/

NASA has completed another round of tests on the deployment of the parachute system of the deep space spacecraft called the Orion.  NASA plans to use Orion and the Space Launch System (SLS) to expand humanity’s presence across the entire solar system.

Orion’s first test flight will take place in 2014.  It will travel to distances 15 times further than the International Space Station up to speeds of 20,000 mph before returning to Earth. NASA plans to launch Orion from the SLS in 2017.

Sources:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/index.html