What’s that big metal donut on the ceiling? Actually, it’s part of NASA’s forthcoming Orion Service Module, about to be tested to ensure it can withstand the vibrations it will be exposed to during launch and travel.


The assembly — actually it’s the the craft’s Crew Module Adapter, which will connect the crew module to the service module, so it’s fairly important — is to be placed on a large vibration table at NASA’s Plum Brook Space Power Facility. There, it will undergo the kinds of forces and vibration that it will undergo during its trip into space. And hopefully survive!

[NASA]