June 18, 2009

Grey Hautaluoma/Ashley Edwards Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0668/1756 grey hautaluoma-1@nasa gov, ashley edwards-1@nasa gov

Keith Henry Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va 757-864-6120/344-7211 h k henry@nasa gov

Rebecca Powell Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va 757-824-1139 rebecca h powell@nasa gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-110

NASA RESCHEDULES TEST OF MAX LAUNCH ABORT SYSTEM TO JUNE 22

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va -- Because of weather concerns and launch site preparations, NASA has rescheduled the test flight of the Max Launch Abort System, or MLAS, to no earlier than June 22 at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va The launch window Monday extends from approximately 5:45 a m to 10 a m EDT The launch previously had been scheduled for June 20

The unpiloted test is part of an effort to design a system for safely propelling future spacecraft and crews away from hazards on the launch pad or during the climb to orbit This system was developed as an alternative concept to the launch abort system chosen for NASA's Orion crew capsule Orion is part of NASA's Constellation Program, which is developing next-generation spacecraft and systems for exploration

The 33-foot-high MLAS vehicle will be launched to an altitude of approximately one mile to simulate an emergency on the launch pad A full-scale mockup of the crew module will separate from the launch vehicle and parachute into the Atlantic Ocean

For more information about MLAS, visit:

http://www nasa gov/centers/wallops/missions/mlas html

For more information about NASA's Constellation Program, visit:

http://www nasa gov/constellation

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