NASA launches Orion capsule to test abort system

NASA conducted a full-stress launch abort test for the Orion capsules designed to carry astronauts to the moon. The capsule was empty for the morning demo, which officials said appeared to be successful.

Cape Canaveral, Florida:NASA conducted a full-stress launch abort test Tuesday for the Orion capsules designed to carry astronauts to the moon.

The capsule was empty for the morning demo, which officials said appeared to be successful.

Barely a minute after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the abort motor fired, pulling the capsule from the booster about six miles (10 kilometers) up.

The capsule continued upward another two miles (3 kilometers), then flipped to jettison the abort tower.

NASA chose not to use parachutes to keep this test version of the capsule simple and thus save time, and so it crashed into the Atlantic at 300 mph (480 kph) as planned, the three-minute test complete.

Twelve data recorders popped off in bright orange canisters before impact, for ocean retrieval.

NASA aims to put astronauts back on the moon by 2024 using its still-in-development Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket.

This was the second abort test for Orion, conducted at a speed of more than 800 mph (1,300 kph).

The first, in New Mexico in 2010, was lower and slower.