View source for ORION Project

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{{Era|FOR|TF|ILB|CH|HGN|FS}}
{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name=ORION Project
|image=[[Image:ORION.gif|center|ORION Project Symbol]]
|dates=[[2491]] - Unknown
|country=
|allegiance=[[United Nations Space Command]]
|branch=
*[[ONI]]
**[[UNSC Special Forces|NAVSPECWAR]]
|type=Special Operations
|role=Special Forces
|size=
|command_structure=
|garrison=
|garrison_label=
|nickname=NAVSPECWAR Marines, Special Special Forces
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|anniversaries=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=*[[The Insurrection]]
**[[Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE]]
**[[Operation: TANGLEWOOD]]
**[[Operation: TREBUCHET]]
|decorations=
|battle_honors=
|commanders=
}}


The '''ORION Project''' was an [[ONI]] [[UNSC Special Forces|NavSpecWar]] program to produce [[UNSC]] [[Marines|NavSpecWar Marines]] to combat the [[Insurrection]]. It is unknown what their training included, except for that they became experts in standard infantry field craft and hand to hand combat.<ref>[[Halo: Contact Harvest]] Prologue</ref> 

==Operations==

ORION was behind many operations, including:

*[[Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE]]<ref>[[Halo Graphic Novel]], Symbol top left hand corner</ref>
*[[Operation: TANGLEWOOD]]<ref>[[Halo: Contact Harvest]] page 47</ref>
*[[Operation: TREBUCHET]]<ref>[[Halo: Contact Harvest]] Prologue</ref>

==NavSpecWar Marines==

*[[Avery Johnson]]<ref>[[Halo: Contact Harvest]] Prologue</ref>
*[[Nolan Byrne]]<ref>[[Halo: Contact Harvest]] Prologue</ref>

==[[SPARTAN-I Program]]==

{{Main|SPARTAN-I Program}}

The '''SPARTAN-I Program''' was the first and initial known phase of the [[Spartans|Spartan Supersoldier program]]. Initiated in [[2491]], as an element and subdivision of the ORION project, not much is known about this first generation of warriors.<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], page 16</ref> The program was canceled due to unknown circumstances, but it was successful enough to garner a [[SPARTAN-II|second phase]].<ref>[[I Love Bees]]</ref>

The original Spartan Project was created to test genetic enhancements on volunteers from the armed forces.<ref>Jan - [[Axon Clips Chapter 5]]</ref>. These enhancements were the precursors to the enhancements used in the [[Spartan-II]] program. The mortality rate for those injected was high, a factor which contributed largely to the failure of the program. Those who survived the injection(s) had a greatly increased rate of mental problems later in life. It is not known at this time how many soldiers participated in this program. However, it is mentioned that there are several offspring known as 1.1's, some of which may have been chosen for the Spartan-II program.The Spartan 1.0 do not wear armor apart from their battle suit.

== Trivia ==

*[[Wikipedia:Project Orion|Project Orion]] was also a spacecraft program in the real world. It was the first engineering design study of spacecraft powered by nuclear pulse propulsion. Its supporters felt that it had great potential for space travel, but it lost political approval because of concerns with fallout from its propulsion. The Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963 is generally acknowledged to have ended the project.
*The SPARTAN Is were thought to be the 300 Spartans of Greek history.

==Sources==
<references/>
[[Category:UNSC]]