Spaceflight

NASA has completed a full-scale rocket motor test for the development of its Orion crew exploration vehicle's jettison motor, which will separate the spacecraft's launch abort system from the crew module during a successful ascent.

The firing is the first full-scale rocket propulsion element for NASA's Constellation programme that has been qualified to proceed into a system-level demonstration.

The motor firing was conducted on 17 July at NASA contractor Aerojet's facility in Sacramento, California. It is part of a series of tests before delivery of the motor to be used for the first launch-abort system full-scale test later this year. Engineers will use the test firings to help define induced acoustic, vibration and shock loads.