Posted 4/11/2009
Pararescuemen test the hatch mechanism during recovery testing on a mockup of the Orion crew exploration vehicle March 8 at the Trident Basin at Port Canaveral, Fla. The team also tested an inflatable flotation collar (the blue and yellow ring seen around the base of the capsule), which is designed both to stabilize the capsule after water landing and provide a platform for recovery personnel to stand on during the operation. Reservists from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wingprovide contingency medical and recovery support for all NASA shuttle launches. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Paul Flipse)