Press release
193KB
may 27, 2019 - NASA
NASA Invites Media to Orion Abort Test Before Moon Missions with Crew
Media accreditation is open for an uncrewed flight test of the launch abort system of NASA's Orion spacecraft on Tuesday, July 2. This test, Ascent Abort-2, will demonstrate the abort system can activate, steer the spacecraft, and carry astronauts to a safe distance if an emergency arises during Orion's climb to orbit.
A 22,000-pound test version of the Orion spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida on a rocket provided by Northrop Grumman.
Media prelaunch and launch activities will take place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. International media must apply by 4 p.m. EDT, Monday, May 27, for access to Kennedy and CCAFS. U.S. media must apply by 9 p.m. Friday, June 14. All accreditation requests should be submitted online at: https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
For questions about accreditation, please email ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For more information, contact Kennedy's newsroom at 321-867-2468.
During the three-minute test, the spacecraft, with a fully functional launch abort system, will climb to an altitude of about six miles, traveling at more than 1,000 miles per hour. At that point, the system's powerful abort motor will fire, pulling Orion away from the booster.
In a test targeted for Summer 2019 known as Ascent Abort-2, #nasa will verify the Orion spacecraft's launch abort system, a tower on top of the crew module, can steer the capsule and astronauts inside it to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during ascent for deep-space missions.
Credits: NASA
Designing a system for human spaceflight means ensuring there are features in place that protect the astronauts aboard. Data gathered from this test will be used to validate and improve computer models of the spacecraft launch abort system's performance and functions.
NASA is working to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024. Orion is part of NASA's backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Space Launch System rocket and Gateway in orbit around the Moon. Orion will sustain astronauts in deep space, provide emergency abort capability, and support a safe re-entry from lunar return velocities. Exploring the Moon helps create a vibrant future and advance technologies, capabilities and new opportunities for future missions to Mars.
For more information about the Orion spacecraft and Launch Abort System, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/orion
orion-aa2-rollout
2500x1667, 3MB
Related news |
||
|
|
|
february 28, 2024
|
february 13, 2024
|
january 12, 2024
|
|
NASA and Intuitive Machines will co-host a televised news conference at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 28, from the agency’s Johnson S... |
NASA will provide live coverage of the launch and docking of a Roscosmos cargo spacecraft carrying about three tons of food, fuel,... |
NASA will host a media teleconference at 12 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Jan. 17, to discuss the upcoming launch and science objectives of... |
Download all 
You might be interested in |
||
|
|
|
january 08, 2024
|
september 25, 2023
|
august 18, 2023
|
|
NASA and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) have entered into an agreement for MBRSC to provide the Crew and Science Air... |
NASA will host a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 26, to discuss the upcoming annular solar eclipse. The annul... |
Editor's Note: This release has been updated to add additional graphics, captions, and to spell out the words degrees Fahrenheit a... |
Download all 
Share
Share via mail 
Automotive
Sport
Events
Art&Culture
Design
Fashion&Beauty
Food&Hospitality
Technology
Nautica
Racing
Excellence
Corporate
OffBeat
Green
Gift
Pop
Heritage
Entertainment
Health & Wellness