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NASA is carrying out a series of tests to ensure the agency’s Orion spacecraft can successfully jettison its protective fairings, or covers, during its ride to space. During the first of these tests, two of the three fairing panels separated as planned, but a third didn’t. The Orion service module fairing panels fall into the Fairing Catch Systems after being jettisoned via Separation Strut/Ordnance actuations. Read the full story here. Photo credit: NASA |
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| During the test, all pyrotechnic mechanisms and bolts separated as planned but the third fairing panel did not completely detach. Initial observations point to a potential contact interference. Engineers continue to evaluate the test data which will be compared with engineering models of the jettison to validate engineers’ expectations and, if necessary, improve the fairings’ design before the flight test.
The Orion service module fairing panels fall into the Fairing Catch Systems after being jettisoned via Separation Strut/Ordnance actuations. Photo credit: NASA |
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