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Crew Impact Attenuation Testing
A successful test of the Orion crew module's energy absorbing strut concept, was performed June 9 at the Landing and Impact Research Facility, also known as the gantry. The 20,000-pound (9,072 kg) apparatus, called the Crew Impact Attenuation System Test Article, represents the Orion crew module seat pallet that will accommodate between four and six astronauts.
The test article was dropped from 18-feet (5.5 m) onto crushable honeycomb material, which is sized to represent various landing conditions Orion could face. The energy-absorbing struts will reduce loads felt by the crew during landing.
Credit: NASA/Sean Smith