Orion Ascent Abort-2 Media Resource Reel

Orion’s Ascent Abort-2 flight test will evaluate the spacecraft’s launch abort system during some of the most high-stress ascent conditions. During the flight, a test version of the Orion crew module will be launched atop a booster. At 31,000 feet in altitude, the launch abort system will activate to pull the capsule away from the booster and orient it for splashdown. The test will provide engineers with critical abort test data and is a critical safety test that helps pave the way for missions with astronauts to the Moon. A NASA team across multiple centers developed and built the test capsule.