NASA Continues Orion Parachute Testing for Orbital Test Flight

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March 1, 2012

Michael Braukus 
Headquarters, Washington 
202-358-1979 
michael.j.braukus@xxxxxxxx 

Josh Byerly 
Johnson Space Center, Houston 
281-483-5111 
josh.byerly@xxxxxxxx 

RELEASE: 12-065

NASA CONTINUES ORION PARACHUTE TESTING FOR ORBITAL TEST FLIGHT



HOUSTON -- On Feb. 29, NASA successfully conducted another drop test 
of the Orion crew vehicle's entry, descent and landing parachutes 
high above the Arizona desert in preparation for the vehicle's 
orbital flight test in 2014. Orion will carry astronauts deeper into 
space than ever before, provide emergency abort capability, sustain 
the crew during space travel and ensure a safe re-entry and landing. 

An Air Force C-17 plane dropped a test version of Orion from an 
altitude of 25,000 feet above the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Grounds in 
Arizona. Orion's drogue chutes were deployed between 15,000 and 
20,000 feet, followed by the pilot parachutes, which deployed the 
main landing parachutes. Orion landed on the desert floor at a speed 
of almost 17 mph, well below the maximum designed touchdown speed of 
the spacecraft. 

The test examined how Orion's wake, the disturbance of the air flow 
behind the vehicle, would affect the performance of the parachute 
system. Parachutes perform optimally in smooth air that allows proper 
lift. A wake of choppy air can reduce parachute inflation. The test 
was the first to create a wake mimicking the full-size Orion vehicle 
and complete system. 

Since 2007, the Orion program has conducted a vigorous parachute air 
and ground test program and provided the chutes for NASA's successful 
pad abort test in 2010. All of the tests build an understanding of 
the chutes' technical performance for eventual human-rated 
certification. 

For more information about Orion and photographs of the drop test, 
visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/orion 

	
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