Skip Top nav bar link group topnav end piece go to business section go to education section go to history section go to gallery section go to news section go to organizations section go to research section go to search engine go to site index topnav end piece
NASA Meatball Orion Photo Collection banner
 
Orion

Air Force loadmasters oversee unloading of the full-scale Orion abort test crew module mockup from a C-17 cargo aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base March 28.

 
Photo Number: ED08-0085-027
Photo Date: March 28, 2008
 
Formats: 640x544 JPEG Image (228 KBytes)
1280x1087 JPEG Image (772 KBytes)
3000x2547 JPEG Image (4145 KBytes)
 
Photo
Description:
A full-scale flight-test mockup of the Constellation program's Orion crew vehicle arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in late March 2008 to undergo preparations for the first short-range flight test of the spacecraft's astronaut escape system later that year. Engineers and technicians at NASA's Langley Research Center fabricated the structure, which precisely represents the size, outer shape and mass characteristics of the Orion space capsule.

The Orion crew module mockup was ferried to NASA Dryden on an Air Force C-17. After painting in the Edwards Air Force Base paint hangar, the conical capsule was taken to Dryden for installation of flight computers, instrumentation and other electronics prior to being sent to the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico for integration with the escape system and the first abort flight test in late 2008. The tests were designed to ensure a safe, reliable method of escape for astronauts in case of an emergency.

 
Project
Description:
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center has a critical role in the early development of the Constellation systems. Applying Dryden’s expertise with testing unique flight configurations, Dryden is helping to manage and implement the abort flight tests for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. Dryden will lead the development and integration of the full-size Orion test articles along with development of the ground support equipment, flight instrumentation and launch facility construction for the early pad abort and all ascent abort flight tests.

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.

Part of NASA's fleet of next generation spacecraft, Orion is being designed to take astronauts to the International Space Station and then back to the moon by 2020.

 
NASA Photo by: Tony Landis
 
Keywords: full-scale flight-test mockup, Orion crew module, Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, CEV, Orion Abort Flight Test, Constellation Program, short-range flight test, astronaut escape system, Edwards Air Force Base, C-17, unload
 


Last Modified: April 3, 2008
Responsible NASA Official: Marty Curry
Curator: PAO Webmasters

NASA Website Privacy Statement