NASA Astronaut Survival Systems Tests for Orion Splashdowns

NASA and the U.S. Air Force recently tested astronaut survival systems for the first time since the space shuttles stopped flying in 2011.

These tests were part of the Orion module, which is designed to carry astronauts out of their immediate neighborhood and towards more exotic destinations like the moon and Mars.

Orion @NASAGoddard and the @usairforce tested open water rafts and survival equipment performance in challenging weather and dynamic simulated sea states. The search and rescue beacon notification system was conducted for the first time since the Space Shuttle program. pic.twitter.com/o6mHDr8rcP

– Orion Spacecraft (@NASA_Orion) October 22, 2018

The scenarios focused on systems that would protect astronauts landing in open water under harsh weather conditions. As usual for spaceflight systems, the agency wants to make sure everything works in the most extreme conditions that might be experienced.

During the tests, NASA and the Air Force studied both rafting equipment and crewmembers who leave the capsule and the beacon systems that help rescue personnel track down the astronauts. The latter are leftover from the space shuttles' systems and have not been checked since the vehicles stopped flying in 2011.

Crew-safety measures are at the top of everyone's mind after the Oct. 11 Soyuz launch failure that feels two astronauts plummeting back to Earth just a few minutes after their rocket blasted off. The abort system that has been troubled by the troubled rocket had not been used in 35 years.

The Orion capsule is designed to fly on the Space Launch System, a powerful rocket that NASA has yet to complete. Crewed flights are scheduled to begin in the early 2020s, leaving the agency plenty of time to ensure possible safety conditions.

Meghan Bartels at [email protected] or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com.