NASA has conducted two pad abort tests for its Orion spacecraft – the first, Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) in 2009, tested a pusher-type system that was proposed for use with the Ares I rocket.

Later this year, NASA will conduct a full-up test of a launch abort system and a full-scale Orion dummy capsule. Video: NASA Explore Subscribe Newsletters Content Licensing Our Partners Terms of ...

The launch abort system, which is used in the event of a serious failure of the rocket, pushes the crew vehicle away from certain doom and allowing it to return to Earth safely. The test won’t ...

Commenting on the reliability of Soyuz, Hague said the incident "only helped to solidify my appreciation for how robust that system is." "There is a launch abort system that protects me ...