During the third day of Orion Underway Recovery Test 3 on the USS Anchorage to practice the recovery process.

During the third day of Orion Underway Recovery Test 3 on the USS Anchorage in the Pacific Ocean, U.S. Navy personnel in a rigid hull inflatable boat use tether lines attached to the test vehicle to practice the recovery process. NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel are conducting recovery tests using the Orion boilerplate test vehicle to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The test allows the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in open waters.

The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket and in 2018 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett