Alliant Techsystems (ATK) was awarded a $1.8 billion contract to build the first stage rocket motors for the Orion space vehicle. The first stage motors from Alliant will be a departure from the solid/liquid combination in use today and will instead employ only solid fuel.

The next launch of Atlantis has been delayed until at least April, 2007. This may endanger the goal of 5 flights in 2007. The reason for the delay is hail which dented the fuel tank, inflicted 'cosmetic damage' to parts of the wing, and damaged some insulating foam tiles.

NASA's Atlantis shuttle is preparing to launch March 15th. The shuttle will be delivering a pair of solar arrays and a new segment to the international space station.

NASA will continue missions to the international space station through 2020 with the, as yet undeveloped and unbuilt, Orion space craft until 2020. The current plan for shuttle fleets from NASA is to run missions using the current fleet until 2010. Between 2010 and 2014, NASA will rely on international partners to resupply the space station. In 2014 the fleet will be replaced with the Orion shuttle. The Orion Shuttle will run missions to the space station and the moon between 2010 and 2020. NASA plans to run at least two missions per year to the space station using the Orion Shuttle as well as missions in support of the planned moon colony.

NASA astronauts conducted a space walk on Dec 18, 2006 to fix a jammed solar wing on the space station. They were in space aboard the shuttle Discovery to complete a crew rotation.