14 DAY TRIAL // This amazing image captured by a NASA photographer was snapped fractions of a second before the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) prototype impacted the surface of the water during a recent wet drop test.
Such tests are being conducted in order to determine how space capsule will react upon impacting the ocean when returning to Earth from test. This particular one was conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center, in Virginia.
It occurred on November 8, and saw Orion being dropped from about 20 feet (6 meters), at an angle of roughly 17 degrees. This gave the capsule time to accelerate to about 22 miles (35.5 kilometers) per hour before falling into the Hydro Impact Basin. The latter simulated stable seas.
The installation can replicate any type of sea conditions, which makes it an impressive asset for NASA. This is especially true now that the space agency is returning to using capsules for space exploration.