Article courtesy of Las Cruces Sun-News
By Steve Ramirez
Next to the site where America’s space and missile program began more than 60 years ago, NASA technicians were busy Friday preparing for the next generation of space flight.
Covered in a yellow thermal blanket to protect it from the wind and spotty rain and to keep its 4,000 pounds of fuel at a cool temperature — the 55.58-foot tall 
Orion space exploration vehicle stood poised for its first test flight. Jay Estes, deputy manager of the Orion Flight Test Office, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, in Houston, said that the historical first flight is now scheduled for 7 a.m. May 6. The flight will be at WSMR’s Launch Complex 32, a short distance west of where the first American V-2 rocket lifted off, from Launch Complex 33.
“We’re very glad to be a part of this program,” said WSMR spokeswoman Monte Marlin. “White Sands Missile Range has a long relationship with space. It’s a part of our past, and hopefully, part of our future.”
Estes was one of nine NASA officials who conducted a briefing Friday on the Orion Pad Abort-1 test flight. Wide public interest in the test is expected since Orion is being billed as NASA’s next generation of space vehicle. It will replace the space shuttle.
“There’s going to be at least a thousand people coming in to view this test launch,” said Brent Cobleigh, director of NASA’s Exploration Mission Directorate, at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base in California. “This will definitely make an economic impact, particularly in Las Cruces, where a lot of these people will stay.”
Estes said the test flight’s importance is significant because it is the first for the new space vehicle. Whether the flight is successful or not, NASA engineers and technicians will be keenly interested in the data gathered from the 99 second test.
“Sometimes in failure you learn even more than you would if it were a success,” Estes said. “These tests are critical for determining the human rating of the (crew capsule). There’s more risks and unknowns because this will be the first test flight. It’s risky but it’s the time to go test it. “We have an excellent chance of getting all the data back.”
David McAllister, flight operations engineer, added, “If it’s going to be a failure we want it on this type of test. This data is going to be extremely useful no matter what happens.”
But the greatest concern among NASA officials is inclement weather. It is a primary reason why the 7 a.m. launch on May 6 is listed as tentative. Had the launch been on Friday, it would have probably been scrubbed because of windy conditions.
“Wind is our biggest enemy,” Estes said. “Low clouds, much like we have today (Friday) would have made a launch difficult.”
As a contingency, Cobleigh said there will be a two-day window to conduct the first test launch. If there are poor weather conditions on May 6 the test flight would be rescheduled the following day. “There’s a 74 percent chance of launch on that first day,” Cobleigh said. “For the two days that improves to a 95 percent chance.”
Orion’s first flight is expected to be noisy and quick. Estes said the sound levels from the spacecraft’s engines, are expected to reach between 160 to 170 decibels as it lifts off. To put the noise level in perspective, he said 180 decibels can cause the death of hearing tissues in people. “It will be an extreme environment,” Estes said.
McAllister said the thrust from Orion’s engines will propel it 5,000 feet above the Earth and approximately the same distance north of the launch site. “It’s going to go fast,” McAllister said. “At liftoff it will expend 4,000 pounds of propellant in three seconds. At peak thrust, Orion will be traveling 600 mph.”
He also promised a spectacular view if Orion’s first flight is a success. “It’ll be a good show,” McAllister said.
