NASA's bad day....

[Dr Mordrid]

NASA had a very bad day testing the parachute system for it's new Orion spaceship.

During the July 31st Orion parachute test there was a "slight technical glitch" with the "programmer parachute" that gave the Parachute Test Vehicle (PTV = an Orion analog - same shape & weight) a violent spin and then a nice crash into the ground.

Oops

The programmer parachute is intended to correct the orientation of the re-entering spacecraft as it descends, a necessary operation before the drogue parachutes can be deployed to slow it before the mains are deployed.

Unfortunately during this PTV test-drop problems arose very quickly; as soon as the programmer parachute was deployed, it failed to inflate and therefore did not cause any drag.

This happened as the programmer parachute was being buffeted by turbulence in the wake of the PTV and stabilization parachutes. The PTV was therefore allowed to fall in an uncontrolled manner; basically upside-down.

Continuing to drop the programmer and stabilization parachutes were jettisoned (having not done their job very well) and drogue parachutes were deployed. As the PTV was falling out of control the drogue parachutes were put under immediate and excessive strain and wrapped around the PTV, dynamic pressure causing the drogue to be cut away.

Having suffered some major whiplash the PTV's main landing bag retention system was damaged and also failed. Continuing to fall, the main parachutes were deployed, and almost immediately two were ripped from the vehicle, forcing the PTV to hit the ground with only one parachute open.

There are no details as to what damage was caused by this failed test, but I think we can safely assume the PTV will need more than a little body work

Makes one wonder if human cadavers were used on this particular drop; they often are to establish potential injury data. If they were I wouldn't want to have been the first engineer on the scene

[Brian Ellis]

Now you see why, when I was in the army, I refused para training, me who gets vertigo if I stand on a thick carpet.

[DukeP]

Now you see why, when I was in the army, I refused para training, me who gets vertigo if I stand on a thick carpet.

When YOU where in the army, your parachute looked like this:



~~DukeP~~

[MultimediaMan]

ROFLMAO, Duke: Good One!

Brian, I am expecting a fabulous riposte to this jab.

[VJ]

Makes one wonder if human cadavers were used on this particular drop; they often are to establish potential injury data. If they were I wouldn't want to have been the first engineer on the scene

While in the past human cadavers were used, researches can now rely on pretty good crash test dummies. Depending on the type of body-damage they want to measure, pigs can also be used.

Now you see why, when I was in the army, I refused para training, me who gets vertigo if I stand on a thick carpet.

Oddly enough, vertigo is said to stop once you have no contact with the ground anymore. I know a flight attendant who has vertigo. The toughest part for her is when she has to open the door and wait for the stairs/ramp to dock...

(good one, DukeP! )

Jörg

[DukeP]

My diving instructor where terrible seasick.

The moment she got below the surface, she barfed a few times, cleared her throat and dived on as if nothing.

Most students where properbly impressed.

~~DukeP~~

[Umfriend]

Oddly enough, vertigo is said to stop once you have no contact with the ground anymore.

Indeed, as soon as you've fallen over, vertigo is replaced by outright terror.

[Dr Mordrid]

Or, in the case of BASE jumpers, euphoria