NASA Orion Cadavers

Under contract with NASA, Ohio State University researchers used cadavers (bodies donated to science) to test landing systems, seats and spacesuits for the Orion Moonship. Test planners say that testing with cadavers is better than using synthetic crash test dummies because researchers can more accurately gauge the effects of impact on a human body.¹

Fast Facts

1. Three human bodies were used in testing¹
2. Cadavers examined prior to testing and after testing
3. Cadavers offer better test results than crash test dummies¹
4. Spinal cords and internal organs are examined to analyze effects of impact
5. NASA's Orion Moonship is in the development process
6. Orion is scheduled to fly its first mission by 2014 and first trip to the Moon by 2020²

NASA Quotes on Use of Cadavers for Orion¹

"The testing with postmortem human subjects and mannequins is helping NASA to better define the human injury potential for the landing (forces) that we anticipate with Orion."—Dustin Gohmert, NASA Engineer

"It's a socially awkward topic...The bodies are all carefully handled through all of the tests. We follow ethical medical procedures with these bodies that have been donated for science." David Stietz, NASA Medial Division Spokesman

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