Ares I Parachute Test Image

NASA and ATK test engineers at the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground prepare for the first test of all three Ares I main parachutes. The 41,500lb weight will be dropped from an Air Force C-17 from 10,000 feet. The main parachutes will slow the descent of the spent first stage and allow for ocean splashdown. Image Credit: U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds