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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In this aerial view, NASA's Orion crew module, enclosed in its crew module transportation fixture and secured on a flatbed truck is passing the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on its way to the entrance gate to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In view is the Space Shuttle Atlantis facility. Orion made the 2,700 mile overland trip from Naval Base San Diego in California. Orion was recovered from the Pacific Ocean after completing a two-orbit, four-and-a-half hour mission Dec. 5 to test systems critical to crew safety, including the launch abort system, the heat shield and the parachute system. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program led the recovery, offload and transportation efforts. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-4845

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In this aerial view, NASA's Orion crew module,...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In this aerial view, NASA's Orion crew module, enclosed in its crew module transportation fixture and secured on a flatbed truck is passing the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on it... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, center, talks to Milt Heflin on the USS Anchorage on the first day of Orion Underway Recovery Test 3. Heflin was a former space shuttle flight director and Mission Operations executive with experience as a recovery engineer for several Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz Test Project missions. At left is Brandi Dean, NASA Public Affairs Office. The ship will head out to sea, off the coast of San Diego, in search of conditions to support test needs for a full dress rehearsal of recovery operations. NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket and in 2018 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2014-3946

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, center, talks t...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, center, talks to Milt Heflin on the USS Anchorage on the first day of Orion Underway Recovery Test 3. Heflin was a former space shuttle flight director and... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel listen to former space shuttle flight director and mission operations executive Milt Heflin during Orion recovery preparations aboard the USS Anchorage in the Pacific Ocean. Heflin was on prime recovery ships during the splashdowns and post-landing activities of Apollo 8, 10, 16 and 17, each of the three Skylab missions and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. NASA and the U.S. Navy are preparing for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from space and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is leading the recovery efforts. The first unpiloted flight test of Orion is scheduled to launch this week atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket. During its two-orbit, 4.5-hour flight, Orion will venture 3,600 miles in altitude and travel nearly 60,000 miles before returning to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2014-4649

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel list...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel listen to former space shuttle flight director and mission operations executive Milt Heflin during Orion recovery preparations aboard the USS An... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A NASA official talks to visitors at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida about the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup and the Constellation Program. The Orion mockup is on display before heading offshore to be tested in open water. The spacecraft mock-up traveled from the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division in Bethesda, Md. The goal of the open water testing, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Part of the Constellation Program, Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-2505

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A NASA official talks to visitors at the Kenne...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A NASA official talks to visitors at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida about the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup and the Constellation Program. The Orion mockup i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup (left) and an exhibit about the Constellation Program. The Orion mockup is on display before heading offshore to be tested in open water. The spacecraft mock-up traveled from the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division in Bethesda, Md. The goal of the open water testing, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Part of the Constellation Program, Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-2504

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup (left) and an exhibit about the Constellation Program. The Orion mockup is... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup (right) and an exhibit about the Constellation Program. The Orion mockup is on display before heading offshore to be tested in open water. The spacecraft mock-up traveled from the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division in Bethesda, Md. The goal of the open water testing, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Part of the Constellation Program, Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-2507

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup (right) and an exhibit about the Constellation Program. The Orion mockup i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Visitors to the Visitor Complex at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida get a look at the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup, which is on display before heading offshore to be tested in open water. The spacecraft mock-up traveled from the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division in Bethesda, Md. The goal of the open water testing, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Part of the Constellation Program, Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-2503

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Visitors to the Visitor Complex at NASA's Kenn...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Visitors to the Visitor Complex at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida get a look at the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup, which is on display before heading offshore to be teste... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup, which will be moved onto the center before heading offshore to be tested in open water. The spacecraft mock-up traveled from the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division in Bethesda, Md. The goal of the open water testing, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Part of the Constellation Program, Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-2506

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is the Orion crew exploration vehicle mockup, which will be moved onto the center before heading offshore to be tested i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle floats in the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional flotation devices. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. The mockup vehicle is undergoing testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2566

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle float...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle floats in the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional flotation devices. Orion is targeted to begin ca... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing make their way toward the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle floating in the open water of the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. They will place a flotation collar around the mockup vehicle. The mockup vehicle will undergo testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2562

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing make their way...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing make their way toward the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle floating in the open water of the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. They will place a... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle floats in the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. The mockup vehicle will undergo testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-2554

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle float...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle floats in the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered into the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2559

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered into the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-lan... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional flotation devices. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-2556

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flot...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional f... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered toward the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-2552

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered toward the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the Internat... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional flotation devices. The mockup vehicle will undergo testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2563

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flot...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional f... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Flotation devices are attached to the top of the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle before the testing in the open water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. The mockup vehicle will undergo testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2561

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Flotation devices are attached to the top of th...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Flotation devices are attached to the top of the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle before the testing in the open water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. The mockup vehicl... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered into the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-2553

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered into the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the Internatio... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is on the dock at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., waiting to be tested in open waters. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-2550

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is on...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is on the dock at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., waiting to be tested in open waters. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing get ready to release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional flotation devices. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-2555

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing get ready to r...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing get ready to release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing secure a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional flotation devices. The mockup vehicle will undergo testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2565

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing secure a flota...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing secure a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional fl... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is prepared to be lifted into the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-2551

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is pr...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is prepared to be lifted into the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is on the dock at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., waiting to be tested in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2557

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is on...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is on the dock at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., waiting to be tested in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is prepared to be lifted into the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2558

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is pr...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is prepared to be lifted into the water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla., for testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubb... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing help prepare the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle for testing in the open water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. The mockup vehicle will undergo testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2560

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing help prepare t...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing help prepare the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle for testing in the open water at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. The mockup vehicle will... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional flotation devices. The mockup vehicle will undergo testing in open water. The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motion astronauts can expect after landing, as well as outside conditions for recovery teams. Orion is targeted to begin carrying humans to the International Space Station in 2015 and to the moon by 2020. Orion, along with the Ares I and V rockets and the Altair lunar lander, are part of the Constellation Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2564

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flot...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. On top of Orion are additional f... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship prepare for testing in the Atlantic Ocean of an Orion flight test capsule to begin. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsule, which began at-sea operations Nov. 29, is under way. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-8176

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship prepare for testing in the Atlantic Ocean of an Orion flight test capsule to begin. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT)... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Testing is under way on an Orion flight test capsule in the Atlantic Ocean. The tests are being monitored by workers aboard NASA's Liberty Star ship. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsule, which began at-sea operations Nov. 29, is under way. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-8180

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Testing is under way on an Orion flight test ca...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Testing is under way on an Orion flight test capsule in the Atlantic Ocean. The tests are being monitored by workers aboard NASA's Liberty Star ship. The Crew Module Recovery Attach F... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers, on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship and in a boat in the Atlantic Ocean, prepare to begin testing of an Orion flight test capsule. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsule, which began at-sea operations Nov. 29, is under way. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-8177

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers, on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star shi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers, on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship and in a boat in the Atlantic Ocean, prepare to begin testing of an Orion flight test capsule. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion flight test capsule makes a splash into the Atlantic Ocean as it slides from the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship into the water. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsule, which began at-sea operations Nov. 29, is under way. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-8174

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion flight test capsule makes a splash int...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion flight test capsule makes a splash into the Atlantic Ocean as it slides from the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship into the water. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Port Canaveral in Florida, an Orion flight test capsule is secured to the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) which began at-sea operations Nov. 29. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs KSC-2011-8150

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Port Canaveral in Florida, an Orion flight t...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Port Canaveral in Florida, an Orion flight test capsule is secured to the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Attach... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion flight test capsule aboard the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship is moments away from being pulled overboard into the Atlantic Ocean. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsule, which began at-sea operations Nov. 29, is under way. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-8173

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion flight test capsule aboard the deck of...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Orion flight test capsule aboard the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship is moments away from being pulled overboard into the Atlantic Ocean. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Te... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship departs Port Canaveral in Florida with an Orion flight test capsule secured to its deck. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) which began at-sea operations Nov. 29. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs KSC-2011-8151

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship departs Port Canaveral...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship departs Port Canaveral in Florida with an Orion flight test capsule secured to its deck. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Att... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship heads into the Atlantic Ocean where tests will be performed on an Orion flight test capsule. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsule, which began at-sea operations Nov. 29, is under way. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-8172

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship heads into the Atlanti...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship heads into the Atlantic Ocean where tests will be performed on an Orion flight test capsule. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsul... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship, with an Orion flight test capsule secured to its deck, passes through the mouth of Port Canaveral in Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) which began at-sea operations Nov. 29. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs KSC-2011-8156

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship, with an Orion flight ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship, with an Orion flight test capsule secured to its deck, passes through the mouth of Port Canaveral in Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. Liberty Star has been en... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship prepare for testing in the Atlantic Ocean of an Orion flight test capsule to begin. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsule, which began at-sea operations Nov. 29, is under way. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-8175

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers on the deck of NASA's Liberty Star ship prepare for testing in the Atlantic Ocean of an Orion flight test capsule to begin. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT)... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship departs Port Canaveral in Florida with an Orion flight test capsule secured to its deck. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) which began at-sea operations Nov. 29. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs KSC-2011-8152

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship departs Port Canaveral...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Liberty Star ship departs Port Canaveral in Florida with an Orion flight test capsule secured to its deck. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Att... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Testing is under way on an Orion flight test capsule in the Atlantic Ocean. The tests are being monitored by workers aboard NASA's Liberty Star ship. The Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) on the capsule, which began at-sea operations Nov. 29, is under way. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-8179

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Testing is under way on an Orion flight test ca...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Testing is under way on an Orion flight test capsule in the Atlantic Ocean. The tests are being monitored by workers aboard NASA's Liberty Star ship. The Crew Module Recovery Attach F... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Port Canaveral in Florida, NASA's Liberty Star ship, with an Orion flight test capsule secured to its deck, heads out of port toward the Atlantic Ocean. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) which began at-sea operations Nov. 29. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs KSC-2011-8153

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Port Canaveral in Florida, NASA's Liberty St...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Port Canaveral in Florida, NASA's Liberty Star ship, with an Orion flight test capsule secured to its deck, heads out of port toward the Atlantic Ocean. Liberty Star has been enlist... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way at Port Canaveral in Florida for the early-morning departure of NASA's Liberty Star ship. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery Attach Fitting Test (CRAFT) which began at-sea operations Nov. 29. Multiple attach clips are being evaluated against the current recovery cleat configuration by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs) and a U.S. Navy diver. The 21st Century Ground Systems Program will use data collected from the tests to help develop ground operations support equipment that could be used to recover an uncrewed Orion flight test capsule after splashdown. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is NASA's next-generation spacecraft being developed for deep space missions to asteroids, moons and other interplanetary destinations throughout the solar system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs KSC-2011-8149

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way at Port Canaveral in...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way at Port Canaveral in Florida for the early-morning departure of NASA's Liberty Star ship. Liberty Star has been enlisted to support the Crew Module Recovery ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – A crane lowers the top fixture of the crew module recovery cradle onto the Orion boilerplate test vehicle at a warehouse at the Naval Base San Diego in California. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2575

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – A crane lowers the top fixture of the crew module ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – A crane lowers the top fixture of the crew module recovery cradle onto the Orion boilerplate test vehicle at a warehouse at the Naval Base San Diego in California. The Ground Systems Develop... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been secured in the crew module recovery cradle and raised up at a warehouse at the Naval Base San Diego in California. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2577

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been secure...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been secured in the crew module recovery cradle and raised up at a warehouse at the Naval Base San Diego in California. The Ground Systems Development ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been secured in the crew module recovery cradle at a warehouse at the Naval Base San Diego in California. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2576

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been secure...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been secured in the crew module recovery cradle at a warehouse at the Naval Base San Diego in California. The Ground Systems Development and Operations... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2584

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The tes... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2583

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The tes... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2581

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The tes... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California, workers prepare for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover on the Orion boilerplate test vehicle. The test vehicle is secured on the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2587

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California, workers prepare for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover on the Orion boilerplate test vehicle. ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California, workers prepare for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover on the Orion boilerplate test vehicle. The test vehicle is secured on the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2586

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California, workers prepare for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover on the Orion boilerplate test vehicle. ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California, workers prepare for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover on the Orion boilerplate test vehicle. The test vehicle is secured on the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2588

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California, workers prepare for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover on the Orion boilerplate test vehicle. ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California, workers prepare for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover on the Orion boilerplate test vehicle. The test vehicle is secured on the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2589

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California, workers prepare for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover on the Orion boilerplate test vehicle. ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2580

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The tes... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2582

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The tes... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Workers prepare to move the Orion boilerplate test vehicle into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2579

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Workers prepare to move the Orion boilerplate test...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Workers prepare to move the Orion boilerplate test vehicle into a protective structure at the Mole Pier at the Naval Base San Diego in California for a simulated fit check of the hatch cover... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved to a warehouse at Naval Base San Diego in California from the Mole Pier at the naval base. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2595

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved to a warehouse at Naval Base San Diego in California from the Mole Pier at the naval base. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module r... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Workers simulate moving the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in place to be lifted into the crew module transportation fixture at the Mole Pier at Naval Base San Diego in California to a warehouse at the naval base. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2593

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Workers simulate moving the Orion boilerplate test...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Workers simulate moving the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in place to be lifted into the crew module transportation fixture at the Mole Pier at Naval Base San Diego in California to a wareh... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved to a warehouse at Naval Base San Diego in California from the Mole Pier at the naval base. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2596

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle has been moved to a warehouse at Naval Base San Diego in California from the Mole Pier at the naval base. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module r... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved from the Mole Pier at Naval Base San Diego in California to a warehouse at the naval base. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module recovery cradle. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are evaluating the hardware and processes for preparing the Orion crew module for Exploration Flight Test-1, or EFT-1, for overland transport from the naval base to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch later this year atop a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to an altitude of 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface. The two-orbit, four-hour flight test will help engineers evaluate the systems critical to crew safety including the heat shield, parachute system and launch abort system. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-2594

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved ...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is being moved from the Mole Pier at Naval Base San Diego in California to a warehouse at the naval base. The test vehicle is attached to the crew module r... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, children sign a banner near the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3296

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, ch...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, children sign a banner near the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NASA Public Affairs Officer Amber Philman describes the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft to visitors during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3300

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NA...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NASA Public Affairs Officer Amber Philman describes the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft to visitors during an outreach event at the n... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, children sign a banner and view the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3302

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, ch...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, children sign a banner and view the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prep... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, children pick up Orion posters from U.S. Navy personnel during an outreach event at the naval base. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is on display. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3301

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, ch...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, children pick up Orion posters from U.S. Navy personnel during an outreach event at the naval base. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is on d... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NASA's Orion boilerplate test vehicle is on display during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3294

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NA...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NASA's Orion boilerplate test vehicle is on display during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Or... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, visitors talk with U.S. Navy personnel and view the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3298

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, vi...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, visitors talk with U.S. Navy personnel and view the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchora... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, former NASA astronaut Heidi Piper talks with visitors about Exploration Flight Test-1 during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3295

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, fo...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, former NASA astronaut Heidi Piper talks with visitors about Exploration Flight Test-1 during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anch... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, visitors take photographs in front of the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3297

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, vi...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, visitors take photographs in front of the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is bein... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3293

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle and other hardware will be load... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, former NASA astronaut Heidi Piper signs the banner near the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS Anchorage is being prepared for the Orion Underway Recovery Test 2. The test vehicle and other hardware will be loaded into the well deck of the ship and head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new support hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program will conduct the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3299

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, fo...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, former NASA astronaut Heidi Piper signs the banner near the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during an outreach event at the naval base. The USS... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, support hardware for the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is be loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3305

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, su...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, support hardware for the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is be loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA,... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are secured in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3312

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are secured in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are being prepared to be loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3303

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are being prepared to be loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Rec... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3308

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, L... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NASA and U.S. Navy personnel make sure that the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are secured in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3310

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NA...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NASA and U.S. Navy personnel make sure that the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are secured in the well deck of the USS An... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are being prepared to be loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3307

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are being prepared to be loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Rec... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3309

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, L... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are being prepared to be loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3306

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are being prepared to be loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Rec... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are being loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3304

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are being loaded in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. N... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NASA and U.S. Navy personnel make sure that the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are secured in the well deck of the USS Anchorage for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3311

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NA...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, NASA and U.S. Navy personnel make sure that the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and support hardware are secured in the well deck of the USS An... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel remove the handling fixture from the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in the well deck of the USS Anchorage at the U.S. Naval Base San Diego, to prepare for Underway Recovery Test 2. The ship will head out to sea, off the coast of San Diego, in search of conditions to support test needs. The team will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3313

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel remo...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel remove the handling fixture from the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in the well deck of the USS Anchorage at the U.S. Naval Base San Diego, to p... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and cradle have been positioned in the well deck of the USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3315

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and cradle have been positioned in the well deck of the USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and cradle have been positioned in the well deck of the USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2. A worker moves a piece of the handling fixture that was removed from around the test vehicle. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3316

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, th...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At the U.S. Naval Base San Diego in California, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and cradle have been positioned in the well deck of the USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel remove the handling fixture from the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in the well deck of the USS Anchorage at the U.S. Naval Base San Diego, to prepare for Underway Recovery Test 2. The ship will head out to sea, off the coast of San Diego, in search of conditions to support test needs. The team will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3314

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel remo...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel remove the handling fixture from the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in the well deck of the USS Anchorage at the U.S. Naval Base San Diego, to p... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. A safety barrier has been installed near the test vehicle to keep it from moving further into the well deck as it fills with water. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3399

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on i...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast o... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. A safety barrier has been installed near the test vehicle to keep it from going further into the well deck as it fills with water. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3397

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on i...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast o... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3318

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on i...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast o... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Workers are installing a safety barrier near the test vehicle to keep it from going further into the well deck as it fills with water. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3394

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on i...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast o... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Workers have installing a safety barrier near the test vehicle to keep it from going further into the well deck as it fills with water. In the foreground is the test vehicle handling fixture. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3396

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on i...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast o... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Workers are installing a safety barrier near the test vehicle to keep it from going further into the well deck as it fills with water. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3395

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on i...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast o... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Workers are installing a safety barrier near the test vehicle to keep it from going further into the well deck as it fills with water. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3393

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on i...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast o... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. A safety barrier has been installed near the test vehicle to keep it from going further into the well deck as it fills with water. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3398

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on i...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle in the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage in preparation for Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast o... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel watch as the well deck fills with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Tether lines are attached to the test vehicle to control it and a safety barrier has been installed to prevent Orion from going further into the well deck. The test will help the team prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3407

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockhe...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel watch as the well deck fills with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a por... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel are preparing the Orion boilerplate test vehicle for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Tether lines are attached to the test vehicle and a safety barrier has been installed to prevent Orion from going further into the well deck. The bright orange stabilizers have been readied to keep Orion upright in the water if needed. The test will help the team prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3408

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockhe...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel are preparing the Orion boilerplate test vehicle for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific ... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle before the start of a portion of the Underway Recovery Test 2. Workers check the pressure of the bright orange stabilizers that will keep Orion upright in the water if needed. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are conducting the test in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3403

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchor...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle before the start of a portion of the Underway Recovery Test 2. Workers chec... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well deck has filled with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Tether lines are being used to control the test vehicle as it floats forward and a safety barrier has been installed to prevent Orion from going further in the well deck. The bright orange stabilizers have been prepared to keep Orion upright in the water. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3411

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well dec...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well deck has filled with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Oc... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel watch as the well deck fills with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Tether lines are attached to the test vehicle to control it and a safety barrier has been installed to prevent Orion from going further into the well deck. The test will help the team prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3406

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockhe...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel watch as the well deck fills with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a por... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel watch as the well deck fills with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Tether lines are attached to the test vehicle and a safety barrier has been installed to prevent Orion from going further into the well deck. The test will help the team to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3400

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockhe...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel watch as the well deck fills with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during a portion of Unde... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well deck has filled with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Tether lines are attached to the test vehicle to control it and a safety barrier has been installed to prevent Orion from going further in the well deck. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3410

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well dec...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well deck has filled with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Oc... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel watch as the well deck fills with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Tether lines are attached to the test vehicle to control it and a safety barrier has been installed to prevent Orion from going further into the well deck. The test will help the team prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3405

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockhe...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel watch as the well deck fills with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle during a portion of Unde... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle before the start of a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2. Tether lines have been attached to the test vehicle and workers check the pressure of the bright orange stabilizers that will keep Orion upright in the water if needed. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are conducting the test in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3402

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchor...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle before the start of a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2. Tether lines hav... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle before the start of a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2. Workers check hardware associated with the recovery test. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are conducting the test in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3401

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchor...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle before the start of a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2. Workers check ha... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well deck has filled with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Tether lines are attached to the test vehicle and a safety barrier has been installed to prevent Orion from going further in the well deck. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy will conduct the test to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3409

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well dec...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the U.S. Navy’s USS Anchorage, the well deck has filled with water around the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in preparation for a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2 in the Pacific Oc... More

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle before the start of a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2. A winch line leads to the test vehicle and tether lines have been attached to control Orion. The bright orange stabilizers have been readied to keep Orion upright in the water if needed. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are conducting the test in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2014-3404

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchor...

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Inside the well deck of the U.S. Navy's USS Anchorage, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured on its cradle before the start of a portion of Underway Recovery Test 2. A winch line lea... More

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