[SatNews] The Orion crew module flown 3,600 miles into space during Exploration Flight Test-1 has now arrived at the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company headquarters in Littleton, Colorado.

The Orion crew module is placed in a secure stand where it will undergo decontamination.

Photo is courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

While in Colorado, engineers will perform final decontamination on the crew module, will continue post-flight analysis of select components, and will evaluate a new acoustic technology called Direct Field Acoustic (DFA) testing.  The evaluation of DFA testing will determine if the method can produce enough energy to simulate the acoustic loads Orion will experience during launch and ascent on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The test highlights include:

• Customized, high-energy speakers use a specific algorithm to control how much energy reaches the vehicle
• The speakers will be configured in a circle around the vehicle
• The amount of speakers needed for the test will fill up three tractor-trailers
• The testing is expected to conclude in early 2016

If the method proves to be an accurate representation of SLS launch and ascent acoustic loads, it will be used to evaluate and verify Orion’s ability to withstand those loads during its next mission, Exploration Mission-1.