Inside NASA's Orion Ascent Abort-2 launch test

How NASA's rocket escape system saves astronauts

An animated technical breakdown explains how Orion's three distinct solid rocket motors work together to yank astronauts to safety in an emergency.

How NASA's Launch Abort System Protects Astronauts

A detailed simulation breaks down the Ascent Abort-2 flight profile from booster launch to supersonic capsule abort and separation at 44,000 feet.

Simulating a Supersonic Launch Abort at Mach 1

Astronaut Randy Bresnik explains why the Orion abort motor must accelerate faster than any previous system to escape the massive Space Launch System.

Why NASA Built the World's Fastest Abort Motor

Supersonic launch abort test in real time

The modified Peacekeeper missile launches the Orion test capsule before triggering the launch abort system at peak stress, violently pulling the vehicle away and successfully jettisoning the motor.

Dramatic Supersonic Rocket Abort at Mach 1

NASA's ejectable data recorders have a phone number on them

NASA engineers showcase the rugged, bright orange ejectable data recorders designed with GPS, floating syntactic foam, and contact info if lost at sea.

NASA's Floating Ejectable Flight Recorder

Why NASA crashed this Orion capsule at 300 MPH

Presenters explain why the Ascent Abort-2 test vehicle impacted the ocean at 300 mph without parachutes to safely sink and form an artificial reef.

Why NASA Purposely Sinks Test Spacecraft

400,000 lbs of thrust pulling the crew capsule away in mid-air

NASA Orion Program Manager Mark Kirasich breaks down the replay footage of the Ascent Abort-2 test, showcasing the 400,000-pound thrust abort motor firing to pull the crew capsule to safety.

NASA Orion Abort System Firing in Slow Motion

Why this NASA test capsule dropped without parachutes

Orion Program Manager Mark Kirasich clarifies why the Ascent Abort-2 crew module dropped into the ocean without parachutes, explaining how simplifying the test accelerated the Artemis timeline.

Why NASA Skipped Parachutes on This Orion Test

During the Ascent Abort-2 test, the Orion launch abort system fires at maximum aerodynamic stress, successfully ripping the crew module away from the booster and reorienting for recovery.

Orion Launch Abort System Firing at Supersonic Speed

Close-up view: Orion abort motor ignition at Mach 1+

A high-magnification tracking camera follows the Minotaur rocket from ignition up to supersonic altitude, capturing the moment the abort motor ignites and detaches the capsule.

Close-Up Telephoto Tracking of Orion Ascent Abort-2

[03:22] How NASA's Launch Abort System Protects Astronauts
[06:41] Simulating a Supersonic Launch Abort at Mach 1
[11:50] Why NASA Built the World's Fastest Abort Motor
[20:21] Dramatic Supersonic Rocket Abort at Mach 1
[25:27] NASA's Floating Ejectable Flight Recorder
[27:12] Why NASA Purposely Sinks Test Spacecraft
[31:09] NASA Orion Abort System Firing in Slow Motion
[32:46] Why NASA Skipped Parachutes on This Orion Test
[36:42] Orion Launch Abort System Firing at Supersonic Speed
[37:59] Close-Up Telephoto Tracking of Orion Ascent Abort-2

Inside NASA's Orion Ascent Abort-2 launch test

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