Orion Exploration Vehicle to Be Tested

NASA will conduct integrated environmental testing of the Orion crew exploration vehicle in simulated launch, orbit and re-entry conditions.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland will conduct the testing at its Space Power Facility in Sandusky, Ohio.

The environmental tests are designed to demonstrate the ability of Orion hardware to meet specified performance requirements in simulated environmental conditions. Thermal, acoustic and mechanical vibration and electromagnetic compatibility testing will be conducted, along with testing of the launch abort system, crew module, service module and spacecraft adapter.

The work is valued at approximately $63 million during a five-year period from 2007 to 2011.

The Space Power Facility is the home of the world’s largest thermal vacuum chamber. During the testing period, the facility will be augmented with a number of capabilities, including a new acoustic chamber and a mechanical vibration test stand.

The testing will be performed in support of NASA’s Constellation Program, which is developing spacecraft and other systems to support NASA’s exploration missions to the moon, Mars and other destinations in the solar system.