To test the Orion parachute system, engineers rigged one of the test capsule's three main parachutes – the middle parachute in this view – to skip one stage of its inflation, putting additional stress on the vehicle as it opened. Testing irregularities allows engineers to verify the parachutes are reliable even when something goes wrong. The in
To test the Orion parachute system, engineers rigged one of the test capsule’s three main parachutes – the middle parachute in this view – to skip one stage of its inflation, putting additional stress on the vehicle as it opened. Testing irregularities allows engineers to verify the parachutes are reliable even when something goes wrong. The information gathered during the test can help refine models used to build the system and Orion.