NOvA , the NuMI Off-Axis v_e Appearance experiment will study v_u->v_e oscillations, characterized by the mixing angle theta_13. A complementary pair of detectors will be constructed at 14 mrad off beam axis to optimize the energy profile of the neutrinos. This system consists of a surface based 14 kTon liquid scintillatior tracking volume located 810 km from the main injector source (NuMI) in Ash River, Minnesota and a smaller underground 222 Ton near detector at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL). The first neutrino signals at the Ash River site are expected soon after the completion of 2012 Fermilab accelerator upgrades. In the meantime, a near detector surface prototype has been completed and neutrinos from two sources at FNAL have been observed using the same highly segmented PVC and liquid scintillator detector system that will be deployed in the full scale experiment. With the recent measurements of theta_13 as input, updated sensitivities of NOvA s capability to ultimately determine the ordering of the neutrino masses and measure CP violation in neutrino oscillations will be provided. Additionally, design and initial performance characteristics of the surface prototype system along with implications for the full NOvA program will be presented.