Orion Pad Abort-Test Vehicle

Looking ahead to NASA’s next great chapter, the Orion Pad Abort-Test Vehicle exemplifies the space agency’s commitment to safety and crew survivability. This test unit was used in 2010 to validate Orion’s launch abort system, designed to rapidly separate the crew module from a failing rocket during launch — a critical feature for ensuring astronaut safety on future deep space missions.

Displayed in its rugged, industrial form, the vehicle gives visitors a rare glimpse at the raw, functional side of spaceflight development. Informational panels detail the launch test, where the vehicle accelerated from zero to 445 mph in just over 2 seconds, simulating a real-life emergency escape scenario. This technology is a key component of NASA’s Artemis program, which will return humans to the Moon and eventually take us to Mars.