ORION armor

The ORION Exoframe Load Carrier, often simplified to simply the "ORION armor", was a powered exoskeleton design developed by, as a sister project intended for use in the ORION program.

Design details
The Orion armor encompasses a full-body armour suite, with a helmet notably reminiscent of select Mark IV and Mark V helmets of which it would serve as the grandfather of. The chest armor is equipped with a prototype fitting for a "Shoulder Angel" micro-missile/decoy launcher.

Development history
ORION armor was created as a part of the Colonial Military Authority's - a project inspired by the Materials Group's  series of powered exoskeletons. Ultimately, only a few components of the armor underwent field testing before the project's cancellation.

The Orion armor's forearms were field-tested by ORION operatives during Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE, during the Insurrection. Testing of the greaves was conducted by ORION candidate 029 on Mars, with the suit's hardware development studies later going on to provide useful data for the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor project. Classified MELAENO project files were dug up by Catherine Halsey in 2515 and the useful parts noted, with the suit's design ultimately going on to inform the MJOLNIR team on ensuring high range of motion and high levels of protection.

The Orion exoframe was later used by the Watershed Division as a useful stepping stone in the development of the Semi-Powered Infiltration armor used in the SPARTAN-III program. As of 2559, many of MELAENO's successes and failures remain classified.

Usage
What little of the Orion armor that was actually created was employed by ORION personnel during Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE, around 2506-2507.

In-game information
Orion was implemented into Halo 2: Anniversary as a useable armor set in the 20th anniversary celebration event for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, marking the first time a new piece of customisation was implemented for the game. The set is available for purchase in The Exchange on the week of November 3, 2021 and again on the week of January 5, 2022.

Production notes
The Orion armor design dates back to the 1999-era armor seen at MacWorld 1999 during the Halo announcement trailer, which was used to officially unveil Halo: Combat Evolved to the public for the first time ever.

The armor made its first appearance in published Halo media in 2005's Halo Graphic Novel. The armour can be seen on page 96 as an unnamed extra during the story Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa, in a presumably non-canon appearance. It was first featured in a canonical capacity in Halo: The Master Chief Collection for Halo's 20th anniversary.

List of appearances

 * Halo Graphic Novel
 * ''Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa
 * Halo 2: Anniversary