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Washington: The parachutes of NASA's next crew vehicle, the Orion capsule, intended to transport humans into deep space, have successfully pbaded a fall test, according to the US Space Agency
– may cover parachutes, two parachutes, three pilot parachutes and three main parachutes
They are designed to reduce the speed of the capsule as it descends to Earth, ensuring a safe landing in the ocean.
were "deployed as planned after being dropped from an altitude of 6.6 miles [10,6 kilomètres] on July 12, at the US Army Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona", NASA said in a statement.
Data from the seventh of the eight total tests "will help NASA engineers to certify Orion parachutes for missions with astronauts" on the Moon and Mars.
The test evaluated the deployment of parachutes under conditions that exceeded the requirements of a system-carrying crew.
Engineers dropped the sting-shaped test article from an altitude that allowed it to generate enough speed to simulate almost twice as much force on the main trunking than what would be expected under normal conditions.
Each of Orion's three main parachutes extends over 116 feet in diameter and contains enough fabric to cover 80 yards of a football field, but it is carried on board. Orion in containers the size of a large suitcase.
For storage, parachutes are compacted with hydraulic presses at forces up to 80,000 pounds, baked for two days and sealed under vacuum.
Once packaged, they have a density of about 40 pounds per cubic foot, which is about the same as the wood of an oak tree.
The final test of the series, scheduled for September, will use a capsule-type test article representative of the spacecraft that NASA will use in future Orion missions.
IANS
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