Stephanie Schierholz/Grey Hautaluoma
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4997/0668
stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov, grey.hautaluoma-1@nasa.gov
Emily Outen/Keith Henry
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
757-864-7022/757-344-7211
emily.s.outen@nasa.gov, h.k.henry@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 08-081
NASA READIES HARDWARE FOR TEST OF ASTRONAUT ESCAPE SYSTEM
HAMPTON, Va. - NASA has completed production of hardware for use in
the first flight test of the astronaut escape system for the
Constellation Program's Orion crew capsule.
The hardware - a structure that simulates the Orion crew module - was
designed and fabricated at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton,
Va. The structure represents the size, outer shape and mass
characteristics of the space capsule being designed to transport
astronauts first to the International Space Station then on to the
moon by 2020.
The developmental flight test, called Pad Abort-1, will focus on the
ability of Orion's launch abort system to pull the crew capsule
safely away from the launch vehicle in the event of problems on the
launch pad or during the climb into orbit. Planned for late 2008, the
test is the first in a series of uncrewed abort flight tests to
demonstrate the new system. Subsequent flight tests, including tests
on a rocket that will place the launch system in "worst-case" ascent
conditions, will verify that the system can execute a safe, reliable
method of escape for the crew.
The 16.4 foot wide capsule currently is undergoing verification tests
at Langley, after which it will be shipped to NASA's Dryden Flight
Research Center in Edwards, Calif., for installation of flight
computers, instrumentation and other electronics.
After assembly, integration and testing of all avionics and
instruments needed to recover data from the test, Dryden will send
the completed module to the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range in
New Mexico. At White Sands, the hardware will be integrated with the
Orion launch abort system.
During the developmental flight test sequence, the escape system's
main abort motor will fire for several seconds, rapidly lifting the
simulated crew module from a test launch pad to an altitude of
approximately one mile, after which the escape system will detach,
and parachutes will deploy to slow the module for landing.
NASA plans two pad abort tests and three ascent abort tests at White
Sands. Additionally, a parallel series of integrated Orion and Ares I
rocket tests is planned at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida
beginning in spring of 2009.
Langley manages the launch abort system design and development effort
with partners and team members from NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala., and NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston. Design and development of the Orion flight test article for
the pad abort test is being led by the Flight Projects Directorate
and Exploration and Space Operations Directorate at Langley on behalf
of the Orion Project. The Orion Project Flight Test Office at Johnson
will manage the tests.
Video file of the simulated Orion module will air on NASA Television.
For schedule and downlink information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For more information about Orion and the Constellation Program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/constellation
