Space

NASA scientists look ahead to Orion's maiden flight

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Artist's impression of Orion's service module fairing separation in low-Earth orbit (image: NASA)
Artist's impression of Orion's service module fairing separation in low-Earth orbit (image: NASA)
Artist's impression of the Orion crew module during re-entry (Image: NASA)
Picture taken during a successful test of Orion's parachute deployment system (Photo: NASA)
Heat shield mounted on Orion spacecraft, ready to be stacked atop the service module (Photo: NASA)
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With the launch date of the Orion next-generation spacecraft approaching fast, NASA scientists have set out what they hope to learn from its maiden launch. The test flight, dubbed EFT-1 is the first of three proving missions set to trial many of the in-flight systems essential to the success of any manned mission to Mars, or beyond.

EFT-1 will take the form of an unmanned test flight, with the Orion spacecraft being controlled entirely by a flight control team based in NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The launch promises to be a historic occasion, representing a significant milestone on mankind’s journey to Mars. Orion, the product of more than 50 years of experience, will be the first human-rated spacecraft to be constructed in over 30 years.

Weather permitting, Orion is slated to be launched into space atop a Delta-2 Heavy rocket on December 4th of this year. The flight is expected to last four hours and 25 minutes, during which time the spacecraft will see itself launched 3,600 miles (5,794 km) above Earth, with the objective of creating the same kind of intense re-entry pressures that would be experienced by the capsule upon return from a deep space mission.

NASA staff on the ground will be nervously monitoring several key aspects of the proving mission, with the help of 1,200 additional sensors geared towards detecting vibration and temperature stress, while taking detailed measurements of event timing. Furthermore, cameras are set to be mounted aboard Orion to capture the action at key separation points, as well as views out of the windows of the capsule, and a live shot of the parachutes as they deploy (hopefully).

Artist's impression of the Orion crew module during re-entry (Image: NASA)

One vital component to be tested is the Launch Abort System (LAS). This mechanism is in essence a fail-safe required to protect astronauts should anything go wrong during the initial launch phase. Designed to encapsulate the crew module in the event of a failure on the launch pad, the LAS thrusters will fire, carrying the Orion away from danger in a matter of milliseconds. However, even if there is no danger on the launch pad, the LAS must still perform perfectly, as any failure in the system could block parachute deployment upon re-entry, leaving Orion hurtling towards Earth at a fatal velocity.

Orion's computer systems will also be the subject of keen observation throughout the test flight. The computers installed on the spacecraft are 400 times faster than those used aboard the space shuttle, with the ability to process 480 million instructions per second. However, they must survive the radiation and extreme cold of deep space followed by the fiery conditions of re-entry. Whilst being mindful of the potential damage inflicted on computer systems by the radiation, NASA scientists will also be anxiously monitoring the levels in the context of prolonged human exposure to this dangerous form of energy.

Whilst all systems aboard Orion will be put through extreme conditions during EFT-1, none are tested as stringently as those required for re-entry. The entire proving mission is designed around duplicating the kind of pressures that a potential manned mission to Mars will have to endure on its return to Earth, and so naturally the results of the performance of these systems will be the most eagerly anticipated by NASA scientists waiting impatiently in the Kennedy Space Center.

Picture taken during a successful test of Orion's parachute deployment system (Photo: NASA)

The heat shield, comprised of a 1.6-inch (41-mm) thick slab of Avcoat ablator, the same material that protected the crew of Apollo-era missions, will be expected to protect the Orion crew module from the perils of a re-entry at speeds exceeding 20,000 mph (32,187 km/h). This speed will create temperatures of around 4,000 ºF (2,204 ºC), the same as the melting temperature of a nuclear reactor, as Orion plunges towards Earth. Upon contact with the atmosphere, the heat shield is designed to slowly degrade, drawing the intense heat of re-entry away from the crew module in the process.

The final aspect of EFT-1 will be the observation of the parachute deployment system. Assuming the LAS has successfully jettisoned from the crew module following launch, the majority of Orion's stopping power will be provided by the deploying of two drogue parachutes, followed shortly after by three enormous primary parachutes, with the combined effect of slowing the spacecraft to 1/1000th of its initial re-entry speed. Previous testing of the parachute deployment system has proven that the Orion spacecraft could safely land under only one parachute, however these tests could not simulate the extremes that the system will have to endure during EFT-1 prior to deployment.

The Orion spacecraft, once recovered from the Pacific Ocean, is set to be used for further testing of the ascent abort system in 2018. Data collected from EFT-1 will be invaluable in informing future testing, moving towards a crewed Orion mission some time in 2021.

The video below displays a computer simulation of the maiden test flight.

Source: NASA

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8 comments
Anne Ominous
I am curious where the "first human-rated spacecraft in 30 years" claim comes from.
I mean: Spaceship One is a human-rated spacecraft, though sub-orbital. And arguably, SpaceX is farther along in the "human rating" process than Orion is.
Chizzy
I'm baffled that anyone would find Orion exciting. It's Apollo era technology, with modern materials. the only reason they are not using shuttle era computers is probably they can't buy them anymore. ooh it can land with only 1 parachute! In the ocean! nothing new there, seriously notion new at all! Even Soyuz can land on the ground. Want me excited about a NASA program, show me a mars lander, not an earth lander. Show me an earth mars transport capable of comfortably providing 18 months of living space. Orion is not big enough to go to mars in. any connection between it and mars is pure fantasy. Apollo was barely big enough for the short trip to the moon, Orion might be able to do that, eventually, in 2040, maybe. if NASA wants to be relevant it needs to find ways to go big, not call do over.
Slowburn
NASA is paying a fortune to subsidize Boeing's alternative to SpaceX Dragon.
If we want a spaceship called Orion here is a better idea. Project Orion by Freeman Dyson.
Steve Nagle
Agree with everything you say Chizzy. I was once a large supporter of NASA's manned space program. However; they have made more than 6 attempts to build a system to launch man into space after the shuttle and every one of those programs have failed or the program has been stopped. This Apollo on Steroids is not much better than Apollo and is taking billions more and many more years to develop than Apollo did where the engineers used only slide rules to design. Sad NASA! In the meantime we pay the Russians to take us into space.
Michael Hart
This is just stupid. The escape system is a stupid design. Over complicated and non redundant. Once in space it is wasted because it's now in the way. This craft uses multiple stages of parachutes to do a hard landing in the water. It's not able to provide any type of life support on its own. Whats the point when several of the private companies are doing it better.
Cliff Ansley
Rather that leave more junk in space, I wonder if NASA has considered perhaps launching a small satellite or two with this experiment? (And indeed with every like test?) The extra payload, (and indeed some of the other costs), could be paid for by private enterprise.
piperTom
I see that the first Orion mission will go... nowhere. This is perfect metaphor for the entire program, which is pointless and free from any trace of a goal.
Douglas Bennett Rogers
Project Orion could, theoretically, get to another solar system in a few generations and have room for a small society needed to do this.