Our new cover image is from Orions Underway Recovery Test 3 which took place off the coast of San Diego, Calif in September. Orange stabilizers on the top of the test vehicle were inflated to simulate the system that will be used to upright Orion in the water after splashdown. NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel conducted the recovery test using the test vehicle to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The test allowed the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in open waters. NASAs Ground Systems Development and Operations Program based out of KSC is the one responsible for conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch Dec 4th 2014 atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket and in 2018 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston #Orion #GSDO #ImOnBoard
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 17:44:56 +0000
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