Keep the shuttle flying: Fwd: Orion Parachute Failure Test Validates Design's Abilities

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From: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Date: July 25, 2013 7:29:26 AM GMT-06:00
To: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Subject: FW: Orion Parachute Failure Test Validates Design's Abilities

July 24, 2013
Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
trent.j.perrotto@nasa.gov
Brandi Dean
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
brandi.k.dean@nasa.gov
RELEASE 13-231
Tenth Parachute Test for NASA's Orion Adds 10,000 Feet of Success
WASHINGTON -- A complicated, high-altitude test Wednesday demonstrated NASA's new Orion spacecraft could land safely even if one of its parachutes failed.
The 10th in a series of evaluations to check out the Orion multipurpose crew vehicle's parachute system dropped the test capsule from a C-17 aircraft at its highest altitude yet, 35,000 feet above the Arizona desert. One of three massive main parachutes was cut away early on purpose, leaving the spacecraft to land with only two. The test at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground was the highest-altitude test of a human spacecraft parachute since NASA's Apollo Program.
During previous tests, a mock capsule was dropped from a height of 25,000 feet and the parachutes deployed at no higher than 22,000 feet. The extra 10,000 feet of altitude at the beginning of Wednesday's test made the demonstration the best so far of Orion's parachute flight and landing.
"The closer we can get to actual flight conditions, the more confidence we gain in the system," said Chris Johnson, project manager for the Orion capsule parachute assembly system at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "What we saw today -- other than the failures we put in on purpose -- is very similar to what Orion will look like coming back during Exploration Flight Test-1's Earth entry next year."
During its return from space, Orion's parachute system will begin to deploy 25,000 feet above the ground.
Engineers gathered data on the effects of losing a parachute during the descent. The team already proved Orion can land with just two of its three main parachutes, but this was the first opportunity to study how one parachute pulling away in mid-flight might affect the remaining two.
"We wanted to know what would happen if a cable got hooked around a sharp edge and snapped off when the parachutes deployed," said Stu McClung, Orion's landing and recovery system manager at Johnson. "We don't think that would ever happen, but if it did, would it cause other failures? We want to know everything that could possibly go wrong, so that we can fix it before it does."
The test was part of a series of parachute tests that will enable NASA to certify Orion to carry humans into space. The system already has met the necessary requirements for Orion's first mission, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), in September 2014. During that flight, Orion will travel 3,600 miles into orbit then return to Earth at speeds as fast as 20,000 mph, putting the parachute system to the test again as it lands in the Pacific Ocean.
For more information about Orion, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/orion
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  Jul. 24, 2013 12:30 PM
Parachutes appear to work fine during Orion capsule test
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The first space-bound Orion spacecraft arrived recently at Kennedy Space Center and will be assembled for flight here. It is scheduled to launch in 2014. Tim Shortt/FLORIDA TODAY Monday morning event for the arrival of the NASA and Lockeheed Martin Orion spacecraft capsule at Kennedy Space Center, where close to 450 people attended. This work in progress will be finished by technicians here at KSC for this space-bound launch scheduled for 2014. / Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY
Written by
Todd Halvorson
FLORIDA TODAY
CAPE CANAVERAL – NASA's Orion spacecraft scored an apparent success today during a drop test that simulated a main parachute failure during descent toward an Arizona desert.
The full-scale Orion test vehicle was dropped from a military cargo plane 35,000 feet above the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground.

Live video broadcast on NASA TV showed the conical capsule descending under three huge red-and-white striped parachutes. The main parachute failed, but the two remaining lowered the craft to what appeared to be a relatively soft landing.

"We have touchdown," NASA test commentator Brandi Dean said.

Officials at the site said the test appeared to be a success. The Orion spacecraft is designed to land safely despite a main parachute failure.

NASA is developing the Orion spacecraft for human expeditions beyond Earth orbit. Asteroids, the moon, Mars and the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos are potential destinations.

The first flight test of an Orion spacecraft is scheduled to take place in September 2014 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket will propel the Orion to a point 3,600 miles away from Earth.

Then, at the end of its second orbit, the Orion will reenter Earth's atmosphere at about 20,000 mph – a velocity that is 84 percent of the reentry speed of a spacecraft returning from beyond Earth orbit. Ten of 16 systems most critical to crew safety will be tested during the flight.

The Orion for the flight test is now being prepared for the mission at a Lockheed Martin factory located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Contact Halvorson at thalvorson@floridatoday.com

Copyright © 2013 www.floridatoday.com. All rights reserved.

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  Jul. 25, 2013 3:19 AM
Orion capsule sticks drop-test landing
Capsule performs well in simulated parachute failure
Orion capsule drop test 1/6/12: After six months of testing, an 18,000 pound Orion mockup took its final splash into NASA Langley Research Center's Hydro Impact Basin on Jan. 6. This test represented worst-case landing for an abort scenario in rough seas. NASA video
Written by
Todd Halvorson
FLORIDA TODAY
Zoom
A test model of the Orion spacecraft with its parachutes is seen as it was dropped in a test earlier this year. Wednesday's drop test simulated a parachute failure. / NASA
CAPE CANAVERAL — NASA's Orion spacecraft scored a big success Wednesday during a drop test that showed it could return astronauts safely to Earth even if its main parachute fails during atmospheric entry, descent and landing.
Dropped from a military C-17 cargo aircraft flying 35,000 feet above the Arizona desert, a full-scale Orion test capsule deployed its parachutes over the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground.
Live video broadcast on NASA TV showed the capsule descending under three huge red-and-white striped parachutes. The suspension line on the main chute was deliberately cut, but the two remaining chutes lowered the craft to a safe landing.
NASA had not tested a parachute designed for human spaceflight at such a high altitude since the Apollo program in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
"The closer we can get to actual flight conditions, the more confidence we gain in the system," NASA's Chris Johnson, an Orion parachute system project manager, said in a news release.
NASA is developing the Orion spacecraft for human expeditions beyond Earth orbit. Asteroids, the moon, Mars and the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos are potential destinations.
The first of those flights is slated for early next decade.
The first flight test of an Orion spacecraft is scheduled for September 2014 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket will propel the Orion to a point 3,600 miles away from Earth.
Then, at the end of its second orbit, Orion will re-enter Earth's atmosphere at about 20,000 mph — a velocity that is 84 percent of the re-entry speed of a spacecraft returning from beyond Earth orbit.
Other than the deliberate main parachute failure, Johnson said the test Wednesday "is very similar to what Orion will look like coming back" during the flight test next year.
Contact Halvorson at thalvorson@floridatoday.com

Copyright © 2013 www.floridatoday.com. All rights reserved.

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AmericaSpace
For a nation that explores
July 24th, 2013

Orion Parachute Failure Test Validates Design's Abilities
By Jason Rhian

NASA tested the Orion spacecraft's parachute design again today in Yuma, Arizona. Today's failure test saw one of the parachutes forced to fail on purpose to see if the remaining two could successfully lower the spacecraft safely to the ground. Photo Credit: NASA
NASA conducted a failure test of the Orion spacecraft's parachute design at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona on Wednesday, July 24. The spacecraft was dropped out of a C-17 aircraft at 35,000 feet. The test was held to prove that Orion can be safely returned to Earth if one of the spacecraft's three parachutes were to fail.
Wednesday's test marked the 10^th in a series of tests meant to validate Orion's parachute system. The test was the highest altitude to date.
During the test, one of Orion's three parachutes was purposely cut away early. This meant that the spacecraft would be forced to rely on the remaining two. Wednesday's test in some ways hearkened back to an earlier era in spacecraft development as, according to NASA, it was the highest-altitude test of a human-rated spacecraft parachute since Apollo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fUJaR__AJ-8
Video courtesy of NASA
Prior to today, the capsule was dropped from 25,000 feet, with the parachutes opened at 22,000 feet. Higher is considered better by the space agency, as next year the spacecraft and its parachutes will be put to the test during Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1).
Photo Credit: NASA
"In terms of height, today's test was very similar to what you'd see during EFT-1 and later missions. The reason we wanted to increase the drop altitude to 35,000 feet is, Orion's parachute system is intended to activate at about 25,000 feet, said Brandi Dean, a spokesperson with NASA. "When we initially drop the capsule, it takes a few minutes for it to get into the right configuration for the parachutes to deploy. So when we were dropping from 25,000 feet, by the time it got into the right configuration, it was a few thousand feet below that. Dropping from 35,000 feet lets us start the sequence right on target."
During EFT-1, an Orion spacecraft will travel out some 3,600 miles and then return home. Crashing through the atmosphere at approximately 20,000 mph will serve to validate the spacecraft's heatshield. Other elements that will be tested during this mission include the avionics and flight control systems. In essence, EFT-1 can be compared to the 1967 Apollo 4 mission.
"The closer we can get to actual flight conditions, the more confidence we gain in the system," said Chris Johnson, project manager for the Orion capsule parachute assembly system. "What we saw today—other than the failures we put in on purpose—is very similar to what Orion will look like coming back during Exploration Flight Test-1′s Earth entry next year."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-PMm1ksT9fU
Video courtesy of NASA
According to NASA, during its return from space, Orion's parachute system will begin deploying approximately 25,000 feet above the ground. The space agency is working to validate the design to ensure maximum safety standards are in place for the crews that will one day stake their lives on the spacecraft's designs.
Photo Credit: NASA
While NASA already has data about a similar possible failure, this test demonstrated what might occur should one parachute pull away during descent, in terms of how the other two parachutes would react. During the Apollo 15 mission to the Moon, a somewhat similar failure occurred when one of the two parachutes failed as the spacecraft headed toward splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
The rationale behind today's test was explained by one of the engineers working on the project.
"We wanted to know what would happen if a cable got hooked around a sharp edge and snapped off when the parachutes deployed," said Stu McClung, Orion's landing and recovery system manager. "We don't think that would ever happen, but if it did, would it cause other failures? We want to know everything that could possibly go wrong, so that we can fix it before it does."
These tests, along with numerous other milestones, are being conducted and met to ensure that Orion is safe to carry astronauts to orbit. If everything proceeds according to plan, after the 2014 mission Orion will ride the Space Launch System booster in 2017 (unmanned). The SLS/Orion combo will carry a crew for the first time sometime in 2021. President Obama has tapped the duo to fly astronauts to an asteroid rendezvous mission in 2021-2022. However, Congress wants the pair to be used to construct a lunar outpost.

Copyright © 2013 AmericaSpace - All Rights Reserved

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New Space Capsule Lands With Two of Three Parachutes in NASA Flight Test
by Clara Moskowitz, SPACE.com Assistant Managing Editor   |   July 24, 2013 05:41pm ET
The Orion capsule falls to Earth with parachutes deployed at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, on July 24, 2013.
Credit: NASA TV View full size image
NASA's Orion capsule, planned to be the space agency's next manned spaceship, safely landed during a flight test today (July 24) using just two of its three parachutes.
The test was the 10th in a series of maneuvers to check out Orion's parachute system, which will slow the vehicle down as it plummets through Earth's atmosphere on return trips from space. Orion is designed to carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit to nearby asteroids, the moon, and eventually Mars. The spacecraft is due to make its first test flight to space in 2014 in a mission called the Exploration Flight Test-1, and its initial crewed flight around 2021.
During today's flight test, an Orion prototype was dropped from a plane 35,000 feet (10,700 meters) over the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in southwestern Arizona. It was the highest elevation that the capsule has been dropped from; previous tests saw mock Orion capsules released from a maximum of 25,000 feet (7,600 meters). [Photos: Orion Space Capsule's Parachute Test]
The Orion capsule falls closer to the ground with parachutes deployed at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, on July 24, 2013.
Credit: NASA TV
View full size image

"The closer we can get to actual flight conditions, the more confidence we gain in the system," Chris Johnson, project manager for the Orion capsule parachute assembly system at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, said in a statement. "What we saw today — other than the failures we put in on purpose — is very similar to what Orion will look like coming back during Exploration Flight Test-1's Earth entry next year."
Orion is equipped with three parachutes to slow its fall, but is designed to need only two of them. During today's test, engineers simulated the failure of one chute to confirm that the other two were adequate. The team caused one parachute to fail during the descent to understand the effects of a chute pulling away in mid-flight.
"We wanted to know what would happen if a cable got hooked around a sharp edge and snapped off when the parachutes deployed," Stu McClung, Orion's landing and recovery system manager at Johnson, said in a statement. "We don't think that would ever happen, but if it did, would it cause other failures? We want to know everything that could possibly go wrong, so that we can fix it before it does."
During Orion's 2014 test flight, the capsule will launch atop a Delta IV rocket to reach a distance of 3,600 miles (5,800 km) from Earth, well beyond the orbit of the International Space Station. For its eventual deep space missions, the capsule will be launched by NASA's heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS) rock, which is currently in development.

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