NASA has completed an 11-month testing phase of the Orion spacecraft at its Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio. The extensive ground testing aimed to ensure the safety of astronauts on the historic first crewed lunar mission, known as Artemis II, set for 2026.
The Orion spacecraft underwent extreme condition testing, simulating conditions it might face during a launch abort and intense noise levels. The tests also evaluated the spacecraft’s performance in various environments, including extreme temperatures and electromagnetic effects.
“This event would be the maximum stress and highest load that any of the systems would see,” said Robert Overy, Orion project manager at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. “We’re taking a proven vehicle from a successful flight and pushing it to its limits.”
The testing campaign marked a major milestone for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term presence there. The Orion spacecraft will transport astronauts to space and ensure their safety throughout the journey.
Following the testing, the Orion test article will be transported to Kennedy Space Center for further evaluation. NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will launch the spacecraft on its maiden crewed mission.
The successful completion of the high-acoustic-level testing on the Orion spacecraft demonstrates the program’s progress towards Artemis II. The next steps include analyzing data and refining spacecraft designs to ensure mission success.
Source: https://interestingengineering.com/photo-story/nasas-orion-spacecraft-testing-artemis