Project Orion was a highly classified space project undertaken by the United States during the 1950s and 60s. It aimed at developing a spacecraft powered by nuclear bombs, a concept that was both ambitious and controversial. Synonyms for Project Orion include the Orion Program, Orion Project, Nuclear Pulse Propulsion Project, and Starship Orion. The project was ultimately abandoned due to fears over the environmental impact of nuclear testing and the international outcry it would cause. However, the innovations and advancements made during the project's development have continued to influence the field of space exploration to this day.