March 25, 2009

Amber Philman Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 amber n philman@nasa gov

Grey Hautaluoma Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0668 grey hautaluoma-1@nasa gov

Kylie Clem Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 kylie s clem@nasa gov

RELEASE: 09-068

NASA'S CONSTELLATION PROGRAM TESTS ORION RECOVERY PROCEDURES

WASHINGTON -- A full-scale mockup of NASA's Orion crew module is being tested in water under simulated and real landing weather conditions Beginning March 23, a Navy-built, 18,000-pound Orion mockup will be placed in a test pool at the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division in West Bethesda, Md Ocean testing will begin April 6 off the coast of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida

The goal of the operation, dubbed the Post-landing Orion Recovery Test, or PORT, is to determine what kind of motions the astronaut crew can expect after landing, as well as conditions outside for the recovery team The experience will help NASA design landing recovery operations including equipment, ship and crew necessities

The Carderock facility provides a controlled environment for crew recovery personnel to familiarize themselves with the Orion capsule before the team tests procedures in the uncontrolled waters of the Atlantic Ocean

For the ocean testing, the team will use a space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery ship to take the mockup out to sea, going further into rougher conditions each day A media opportunity to view testing visible from shore will be scheduled for April 7 at Kennedy

During the Orion mockup's transportation from Maryland to Florida, it will make stops for public viewing Designated opportunities are March 30 in front of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington and April 3 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida

NASA's Constellation Program, which includes the Orion crew vehicle and the Ares I rocket that will launch it, is America's next-generation human spaceflight system that will carry astronauts to the International Space Station, back to the moon and to destinations beyond

The Constellation Program's Operations and Test Integration Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is leading the PORT effort Development of Orion and associated Constellation Program elements is a joint effort involving every NASA center and partners across the country Results of these tests will influence Orion vehicle design at Johnson and recovery hardware designs under evaluation at Kennedy

For more information about NASA's Orion crew vehicle, visit:

http://www nasa gov/orion

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

http://www nasa gov/constellation

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