NASA REVEALS LATEST TESTS OF THE ORION CAPSULE THAT COULD ONE DAY TAKE MAN TO MARS
DAILY MAIL, 7 NOVEMBER 2018- NASA has revealed a stunning new image of the latest testing of the Orion capsule that could one day take man to Mars.
The capsule is set to be blasted off next year on an unmanned mission around the moon, and will eventually be a ‘workhorse’ for NASA, doing everything from taking astronauts to the International Space Station to being used on deep space missions to Mars.
The latest tests saw NASA working with the US Navy to ‘validate procedures and hardware that will be used to recover the Orion spacecraft after it splashes down following deep space exploration missions.’
The tests used the USS John P. Murtha to recover the test version of the Orion capsule at sunset in the Pacific Ocean.
The latest tests saw NASA working with the US Navy to ‘validate procedures and hardware that will be used to recover the Orion spacecraft after it splashes down following deep space exploration missions.’
‘The Underway Recovery Test-7 (URT-7) is one in a series of tests that the Exploration Ground Systems Recovery Team, along with the U.S. Navy, are conducting to validate procedures and hardware that will be used to recover the Orion spacecraft after it splashes down following deep space exploration missions,’ NASA said. NASA engineers worked alongside Sailors from the John P. Murtha, Special Boat Team 12, and Navy divers from Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 11 and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3 to test recovery operations of the Orion test article.
Tests were conducted throughout the day and night in varying sea states.
‘John P. Murtha was tasked to assist NASA with their seventh Underway Recovery Test. Our crew executed of every assignment given to them flawlessly and their recovery-at-sea experience and dedication directly contributed to our overall mission success,’ said Capt. Tony Roach, commanding officer USS John P. Murtha.
One of the more important capabilities of the ship is the ship’s ability to recover the test capsule using the ship’s well deck, designed to launch and recover amphibious craft.
NASA astronauts training for a possible mission to Mars have previously practiced water maneuvers in a mockup Orion space capsule in the Gulf of Mexico.
Several astronauts trained in the open water, about 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) from Galveston, Texas.
During the crew egress testing, a joint team from the Orion and Ground Systems Development and Operations programmes, along with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force, evaluated how the crew will get out of the capsule with assistance and by themselves.
The astronauts wore bright orange training uniforms as they trained for a possible water landing, jumping into the water, using flotation devices and deploying a life raft.
Coast Guard and other NASA and military safety personnel were positioned nearby.
‘Astronauts returning to Earth in Orion will have spent many days in space, and we want to make sure the last part of their journey goes smoothly no matter what kind of conditions they land in,’ said Tom Walker, rescue and recovery lead for Orion at NASA’S Johnson Space Center in Houston.
‘Our testing in the Gulf of Mexico gives us an opportunity to practice and evaluate our plans and hardware for how to get crew out of Orion as safely and efficiently as possible.’
NASA is developing multiple methods to get the crew out of the spacecraft on the day they return home, which gives recovery personnel and mission controllers flexibility to account for the crew’s health, weather and the condition of the recovery personnel and equipment in the area in real-time.
Orion is designed to sustain a crew that has splashed down in the ocean for up to 24 hours.
When the capsule and its crew return from deep space missions, during one recovery method, small boats of Navy personnel will arrive soon after landing.
They will assist the crew as they exit through the side hatch of the capsule and onto rafts, and take them and the capsule back to an awaiting Naval ship.