Jan 3, 2012

Michael Braukus/J D Harrington Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1979/5241 michael j braukus@nasa gov / j d harrington@nasa gov

Amy Johnson Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va 757-864-7022/272-9859 (mobile) amy johnson@nasa gov

Josh Byerly Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 josh byerly@nasa gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-002

MEDIA INVITED TO FINAL ORION SPACECRAFT WATER LANDING TEST

HAMPTON, Va - Media representatives are invited to watch as the Orion crew capsule makes its final water landing test on Thursday, Jan 5, at NASA's Langley Research Center's Hydro Impact Basin in Hampton, Va

Testing began last summer to certify the Orion spacecraft for water landings Orion will carry astronauts into space, providing emergency abort capability, sustaining the crew during space travel and ensuring safe re-entry and landing

Since July 2011, engineers have conducted eight tests at different angles, heights and pitches to simulate varying sea conditions and impacts that Orion could face upon landing in the Pacific Ocean

The test will simulate deployment of all parachutes at a high impact pitch of 43 degrees The capsule will travel approximately 47 mph before splashing into the basin, where it will likely flip over after impact While this type of landing scenario is not likely to occur during actual vehicle operation, the test will validate models of how the spacecraft would respond Like the Apollo spacecraft, Orion will have an on-board system that allows the spacecraft to up-right itself in the ocean

The Hydro Impact Basin is 115 feet long, 90 feet wide and 20 feet deep It is located at the west end of Langley's historic Landing and Impact Research Facility, or Gantry, where Apollo astronauts trained for moonwalks

Journalists must arrive by 1 p m EDT at the NASA Langley main gate Due to the nature of the testing, an exact drop time cannot be given If the drop test date changes due to weather or technical reasons, NASA will issue a media advisory

To ensure access and badging, reporters must contact Amy Johnson by phone at 757-272-9859 or by email at amy johnson@nasa gov by 4 p m on Wednesday, Jan 4

For video and still imagery that documents ground breaking of the Hydro Impact Basin through various stages of Orion testing, visit:

http://www nasa gov/centers/langley/exploration/hib html

For more information about Orion, visit:

http://www nasa gov/orion

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to: hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices nasa gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices nasa gov

The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:

You are subscribed to the following list: [list_name]

using the following email: example@example.com

You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:

https://aus-city com/cgi-bin/dada/mail cgi/u/NASA_REPORTS/example/example com/

If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism

You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:

<[program_url]/list/[list]>

If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at:

<mailto:[list_owner_email]>

The following physical address is associated with this mailing list:

[physical_address]