NASA has successfully tested its Orion spacecraft, designed to take astronauts on a crewed mission to the Moon and back. The 11-month test campaign simulated extreme conditions during launch abort scenarios, pushing the capsule to its limits. Engineers subjected the Orion Environmental Test Article (ETA) to grueling tests at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio.
The goal was to ensure the spacecraft could separate from the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and safely splash down in the ocean with astronauts on board. The tests simulated noise levels of an abort scenario during launch, as well as electromagnetic effects of lightning strikes.
Orion’s performance passed the test, with data matching prediction models and all systems operating as expected. “It’s been a successful test campaign,” said Robert Overy, Orion ETA project manager at NASA’s Glenn Research Center.
The tests were critical to confirm the spacecraft design is safe for crewed missions. NASA built the Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility in 2011 to simulate extreme abort-level acoustic environments. The Artemis 2 mission, set to launch in April 2026, will send a crew of four astronauts around the Moon and back.
The Orion program has faced several delays and cost overruns due to issues with the SLS rocket, heat shield, and other components. However, with this test success, NASA is now prepared for an emergency situation during launch. The Artemis program aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2027.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/watch-nasas-moon-spacecraft-violently-break-apart-during-abort-test-2000542463