NASA Dryden technicians work on a fit-check mockup in preparation for systems installation work on an Orion boilerplate crew capsule for launch abort testing.

A mockup Orion crew module has been constructed by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's Fabrication Branch. The mockup is being used to develop integration procedures for avionics and instrumentation in advance of the arrival of the first abort flight test article.

The Orion Abort Flight Test effort includes two pad abort tests, simulating aborts during a launch pad emergency, and four ascent aborts, simulating aborts during first stage flight of Orion spacecraft. Dryden manages procurement and oversees development of the solid fuel abort test booster rockets used for ascent abort testing, and is responsible for the integration of the Orion test articles with their booster rockets.

NASA Dryden is also supporting Constellation program technical integration activities.

Future Dryden support roles include assisting with the development of lunar lander test and verification support and flight simulation support of the Constellation training facility. Other potential support include west coast recovery operations, and operation of a lunar / Mars surface analog test site.

The Orion Abort Flight Test project is managed by NASA Dryden under the leadership of the Project Orion Flight Test Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas.