The Orion Ascent Abort Test-2 (AA-2) separation ring was built at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. This ring is more than a shiny, round ornament. It connects the crew module that will fly on the test to the booster that will be used to send Orion to the right test conditions and provides space and volume for separation mechanisms and instrumentation during the April 2019 flight test that will demonstrate Orion’s Launch Abort System can pull the crew module to safety in an emergency during ascent to space.
The separation ring will attach the boilerplate crew module to the top of the abort test booster with pyrotechnic components that allow commanded separation of the crew module from the separation ring. The crew module heat shield fits down into the top of the separation ring and uses hardware similar to the Orion spacecraft.
The separation ring departed Langley August 20 and is scheduled to arrive at NASA’s Johnson Space Center August 24 to be mated with the crew module in preparation for the flight test that will help ensure Orion can safely take astronauts on missions to the Moon and beyond.