A massive vibrating table will be used to test the Orion spacecraft that will take astronauts to the International Space Station.

This table weighs 55,000 pounds and measures 22 feet across. It's located in the Space Power Facility at the Glenn Research Center in Plum Brook Station, Ohio.

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This apparatus will simulate the effects of intense vibration on the Orion booster during launch.  It will use 16 horizontal and four vertical actuators to produce a thrust force of 8.6 million pounds.

This is the world's most powerful shaker system used to test a spacecraft's durability.

According to Jerry Carek, Space Power Facility manager, space launches are the most dangerous and riskiest part of any space mission. NASA anticipates that Orion will require an enormous amount of power to boost this spacecraft into deep space.

This table will simulate the same effects during launch with all that intense shaking. It will test the spacecraft's capability to withstand extreme pressure despite all the vibration.

More importantly, launch procedures as well as escape systems will be further tested on Orion. As an added safety feature, the crew compartment will immediately separate from the rocket during the launch flight if an emergency occurs.

The first Orion test flight is scheduled this December 4. Orion will be carried into space aboard a Delta 4 heavy rocket.

The second test flight will take place next spring and Orion will be attached to the Space Launch System booster.

The Space Launch System is the most powerful booster in the world.  

TagsNASA Reveals Giant Vibrating Table to Test Orion Spacecraft, NASA, US, orion, orion spacecraft, Space Launch System, International Space Station, SLS ISS NASA