As NASA closes the chapter on the Space Shuttle Program, a new era of exploration vehicles is beginning to take off.
Testing began this month at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., in the new Hydro Impact Basin to certify the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) for water landings. The Orion MPCV will carry astronauts into space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and ensure safe re-entry and landing.
Engineers have dropped a 22,000-pound MPCV mockup into the basin. The test item is similar in size and shape to MPCV, but is more rigid so it can withstand multiple drops. Each test has a different drop velocity to represent the MPCV's possible entry conditions during water landings.
The last of three drop tests to verify the new facility is scheduled for the end of this month.
Testing will resume in September with a slightly modified test article that is more representative of the actual MPCV.
The new Hydro Impact Basin is 115 long, 90 feet wide and 20 feet deep. It is located at the west end of Langley's historic Landing and Impact Research Facility, or Gantry, where Apollo astronauts trained for moon walks.
Johnson Space Center, Houston
For images and video of the tests, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/exploration/hib.html
To follow the progress of the Orion MPCV on social networking sites, visit:
http://www.facebook.com/nasampcv
http://twitter.com/nasampcv
http://www.youtube.com/user/nasampcv
Credit: NASA
Testing began this month at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., in the new Hydro Impact Basin to certify the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) for water landings. The Orion MPCV will carry astronauts into space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and ensure safe re-entry and landing.
NASA engineers conducted a successful first drop test of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) boilerplate test article on July 12. The test article weighs 22,700 pounds (10,297 kg) and was going about 24 mph (38.6 kph) at impact. NASA’s recently constructed Hydro Impact Basin is furthering the knowledge and testing of space vehicle landing systems like the Orion MPCV. Additional drop tests at greater velocities will be conducted throughout the summer.
Credit: NASA
Engineers have dropped a 22,000-pound MPCV mockup into the basin. The test item is similar in size and shape to MPCV, but is more rigid so it can withstand multiple drops. Each test has a different drop velocity to represent the MPCV's possible entry conditions during water landings.
The last of three drop tests to verify the new facility is scheduled for the end of this month.
Testing will resume in September with a slightly modified test article that is more representative of the actual MPCV.
The new Hydro Impact Basin is 115 long, 90 feet wide and 20 feet deep. It is located at the west end of Langley's historic Landing and Impact Research Facility, or Gantry, where Apollo astronauts trained for moon walks.
Contacts and sources:
Josh Byerly Johnson Space Center, Houston
For images and video of the tests, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/exploration/hib.html
To follow the progress of the Orion MPCV on social networking sites, visit:
http://www.facebook.com/nasampcv
http://twitter.com/nasampcv
http://www.youtube.com/user/nasampcv
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