Well it seems that it's time for the Constellation Program to take a bath!! Or at least the Orion Crew Modules turn at the 6.2 million gallon Neutral Buoyancy Lab, at The Johnson Space Center in Houston Texas. NASA is testing a 1/4th scale model of the capsule, that will carry the Constellation Crew to the Moon, in tanks of water at The Johnson Space Center & Texas A&M. The tests are designed to help see if the capsule will float in water, and how it will do so during water landings. The tests also help to see if a new seal works, and to test a new floatation collar for the space craft! These tests will lead up to a full scale mock up to be tested of the coast of Florida in January of 2009! (Top Picture, courtesy of Constellation Web Site)
On July 31st, NASA tested the parachute system that will help slow the Orion Capsule during landing, or during an abort attempt. A parachute, called a programmer chute, deployed but failed to inflate during the test. As a result, the test article didn't slow down, and wasn't oriented correctly to issue a safe landing. (Center Picture, Courtesy of Constellation Web Site)
Teams from 7 different NASA centers descended upon Moses Lake Sand Dunes in Washington State in June. They are testing many new ideas for use during the missions on the lunar surface. They team is testing new robots that would be used on the Moon to assist Astronauts. Also tested were new rovers, new space suites, and habitats to be used on the surface of the Moon. It sounds totally cool!! (Bottom Picture, courtesy of Constellation Web Site)
For more information go to the Constellation Web Site!
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