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Surrounded by work platforms, the full-scale Orion AFT crew module (center) is undergoing preparations for the first flight test of Orion's launch abort system.

 
Photo Number: ED08-0090-318
Photo Date: May 20, 2008
 
Formats: 640x621 JPEG Image (327 KBytes)
1280x1242 JPEG Image (1025 KBytes)
3000x2910 JPEG Image (4630 KBytes)
 
Photo
Description:
Surrounded by work platforms, NASA's first full-scale Orion abort flight test (AFT) crew module (center) is undergoing preparations at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in California for the first flight test of Orion's launch abort system.
 
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, PA-1, Orion Abort Flight Test, Constellation Program, short-range flight test, astronaut escape system
 


Last Modified: June 12, 2008
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