How to watch NASA drop its next spaceship from an airplane

NASA is preparing for the launch of its next spacecraft designed to transport humans, the Orion capsule, throwing it on an airplane 6 miles above the ground.

The goal is not to see how much Orion bounces, but rather to test the parachute system which, hopefully, will allow it to land smoothly after the return of the moon astronauts and future missions.

This final skydiving test is scheduled for Wednesday at 10:15 am ET from the US Army Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona. This will be broadcast live on NASA TV, the YouTube feed above and the Orion Facebook page. NASA will answer questions from the public during the live broadcast via the social media hashtag #AskNASA.

Orion is the spacecraft that NASA has been developing for several years as a successor to the space shuttle for missions that may include the moon, Mars and perhaps the outer solar system. Its first unmanned test launch, Exploration Mission 1, is currently scheduled for 2020 at the top of the space launch system, NASA's new, often delayed, massive rocket system.

During Wednesday's test, Orion will be dropped from a C-17 aircraft, and the series of 11 parachutes and pyrotechnic thrusters used to slow the descent of the capsule will be checked.

First, three parachutes of the front bay cover will be deployed at the same time as the thrusters, which separate the capsule of the crew from the lid that serves as a heat shield during re-entry into the atmosphere. Seconds later, two parachutes of medication unfold to slow and stabilize Orion before being released. About a minute later, three pilot parachutes were released, allowing the three main parachutes to be lifted and deployed, slowing the craft down until there was a slight crash in the ocean.

You can watch it all live on Wednesday morning, maybe while you wait The big Apple iPhone event a few hours later at 10 o'clock PT / 1 pm ET.

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