Orion Underway Recovery Test 5 (URT-5)

In the well deck of the USS San Diego, recovery team members monitor a portion of Underway Recovery Test 5 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Oct. 27, 2016. A test version of the Orion crew module is floating in open waters. NASA's Ground Systems Development and Operations Program and the U.S. Navy are conducting a series of tests using the ship's well deck, the test module, various watercraft and equipment to prepare for recovery of Orion on its return from deep space missions. The test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in open waters. Part of Batch images transfer from Flickr.