spacetoday.net: Orion passes latest parachute landing test

Posted: Thu, Jul 25, 2013, 9:41 AM ET (1341 GMT)
Orion parachute test, July 2013 (NASA)

NASA's Orion crew spacecraft passed the tenth in a series of tests of its landing system Wednesday, landing safely from an altitude of more than 10,000 meters. The Orion capsule prototype was dropped from a C-17 cargo plane at an altitude of 10,700 meters (35,000 feet) above the Arizona desert. As part of the test, one of the capsule's three main parachutes was cut away early in the descent to see how well the capsule could land with only two chutes. Project officials said the test went well, demonstrating the ability to land with two parachutes. Orion's first flight, on an uncrewed demonstration mission called EFT-1, is planned for next September.