Orion Spaceship Set For New Round Of Tests In Colo.
DENVER (AP) -- A spaceship Lockheed Martin is building for NASA is being prepared for the next round of tests as engineers attach an "abort tower" designed to lift the ship and its astronauts to safety if something goes wrong during launch.
Lockheed Martin said Friday the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and abort system will be subjected to sound vibration tests at the company's facility near Denver.
The vibrations will emulate the sound pressure levels of a launch and deployment of the abort system.
Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Md., has a $7.5 billion contract to build the Orion capsule. It was originally intended for use in a Moon mission that President Barack Obama canceled last year.
NASA says Orion will take four astronauts on 21-day trips. The destination hasn't been determined.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
