NASA launches Orion crew capsule to test abort system

NASA conducted a full-stress launch abort test Tuesday for the Orion capsules designed to carry astronauts to the moon.NASA chose not to use parachutes to keep this test version of the capsule simple and thus save time, and so it crashed into the Atlantic at 300 mph (480 kph) as planned, the three-minute test complete.Twelve data recorders popped off in bright orange canisters before impact, for ocean retrieval.