Orion Drop Test at Langley

Engineers at NASA Langley conducted the third drop test of the Orion test article as part of Phase 1 water impact testing on Nov. 8. The capsule was hoisted about 20 feet above the ground with a pitch of 17 degrees. It reached a horizontal velocity of about 22 mph before splashing into the Hydro Impact Basin. Test conditions represented stable seas. A crowd of more than 100, including NASA Center Directors, Orion Program Managers and engineers, NASA Langley employees, support contractors, NASA Tweetup participants and media watched. Image Credit: NASA/Sean Smith