On August 26th, 2015, NASA’s test version of the Orion (Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) plummeted nearly 35,000 feet, as part of a “drop test” that took place over the Arizona desert this Wednesday.
NASA TESTS ITS ORION SPACECRAFT TO PREPARE IT FOR FLIGHT
According to The Verge, two of the capsule’s parachutes were “intentionally made to fail” in order to see if Orion could execute a safe landing regardless of potential mechanical failures. To prepare for the drop, the Orion prototype was carried by a C-17 military transport aircraft into the atmosphere. From there, NASA engineers programmed the parachutes to only partially deploy.
In a press release, C.J. Johnson, the project manager for Orion’s parachute system, stated that these tests are necessary because “Orion’s parachute performance is difficult to model with computers.”
When it isn’t being put to the test, Orion regularly features two sets of parachutes, as part of its braking system. According to SpaceDaily, the initial two parachutes are deployed at a higher altitude in order to first stabilize the craft upon its re-entry. The three main parachutes kick in afterwards in order to slow the craft down to a speed that allows it to safely land on the ground.
In this particular test, one parachute from each system was intentionally made to fail. The Orion prototype, which features the same dimensions and weight as the original spacecraft, managed to pass the test, touching down onto the ground after a 6.5 mile drop through the atmosphere.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ORION?
Following this test, the parachute system will continue to undergo eight more airdrops beginning early next year and spanning over the course of a three-year period. If and when it passes this phase, Orion, designed for four people, will be ready for long-distance space travel.
The successful test drop only marks the forward progression of deep-space exploration, which will ultimately allow scientists to learn about asteroids and astronauts to eventually visit Mars. If all goes as planned, you can except to see the vehicle heading to space by 2021. For the mathematically inept, that’s six years from now. In the meantime, you can follow Orion on Twitter for its latest space-capades.
