Science, Space and Technology News 2024
As NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission, the Orion spacecraft is undergoing rigorous testing at Kennedy Space Center’s updated altitude chamber. The testing sequence, which assesses electromagnetic compatibility and simulates high-altitude conditions, is a crucial step in ensuring Orion’s readiness for lunar exploration.
To prepare for the tests, the west altitude chamber was upgraded to test the spacecraft in a vacuum environment that simulates an altitude of up to 250,000 feet. These upgrades re-activated altitude chamber testing capabilities for the Orion spacecraft at Kennedy. Previous vacuum testing on the Orion spacecraft for Artemis I took place at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio.
Originally used to test environmental and life support systems on the lunar and command modules during the Apollo Program, the interior of each altitude chamber measures 33 feet in diameter and 44 feet high and was designed to simulate the vacuum equivalent of up to 200,000 feet in a deep space environment. Both chambers were rated for astronaut crews to operate flight systems during tests.
View of the Altitude Chambers inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: ACI/Penny Rogo Bailes
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