NASA Completes Successful Orion Parachute Test

A C-17 plane dropped a test version of Orion from an altitude of 25,000 feet above the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in southwestern Arizona on July 18, 2012. This test was the second to use an Orion craft that mimics the full size and shape of the spacecraft.

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  Science & Technology

[Dan Brown]

dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled dont get cancelled

[Lastindependentthink]

It had some pretty wild oscillations going there before the main chutes opened. wouldn't be very comfortable for the passengers.

[TheDerekMoore]

I hope that test version isn't to scale...

[tentative1990]

OH NOES AN ALIEN AIRCRAFT WITH CAPTAIN AMERICAS SHIELD STICKER ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[klatu1956]

orionn is only 1 foot bigger in diamater and looks like a ride at disyworld

[masterbrowny1]

who saw captian america shield on command module at 1:25

[willicat441]

The shot @ 0:36 remind's me I saw the future in 2001 A Space Oddessy, and it looked pretty dead on....but some of the guys workin' look more from Mayberry Rfd.

[Michael Buck]

As lovely as it is seeing the parachutes, why couldn't you show the actual craft so we could see it land. #terriblecamerawork

[ApolloWasReal]

Actually, it's shaped like an Apollo command module spacecraft of the 1960s because it was and still is a very good design. The main difference is that Orion is bigger and carries more crew. It's Apollo on steroids.

[ApolloWasReal]

Notice that the second set of drogue chutes (the second pair of smaller chutes) were also reefed; they opened partly at first and then all the way when the reefing lines were cut.

Even not counting the chutes used to pull the capsule and sled out of the C-17, that's a lot of parachutes and pyro devices that have to work perfectly!

[ApolloWasReal]

The mains are supposed to open slowly; it's called "reefing". Lines keep the parachute from fully inflating when it first opens. Then the reefing lines are cut and the parachute opens fully. This avoids the very large opening shock that would otherwise occur if the parachutes opened fully at high speed. That could rip the chutes or injure the astronatus.

[ReptigloRand]

Rather ride the shuttle though it's gone. Good luck Orion