Capture Date: 2013-12-20T00:00:00Z
MORRO BAY, Calif. – The SpaceX Dragon test article tumbles over the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Morro Bay, Calif., following its release for an Erickson Sky Crane helicopter. SpaceX engineers induced the tumble to evaluate the spacecraft’s parachute deployment system in an emergency abort scenario. The test is part of a milestone under its Commercial Crew Integrated Capability agreement with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett