In preparation for the eventual launch of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, the agency recently ordered a vibration-simulating table to assess its ability to handle the rigors of launching on top of a newly developed mega-rocket.

The table – 22 feet wide and weighing in at 55,000 pounds – was delivered to Glenn Research Center’s Space Power Facility at the Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio last week. The table utilizes four horizontal hydraulic actuators and 16 vertical actuators to vibrate the table, simulating the experience of a rocket launch for a spacecraft set on top of it.

“Launch is the most dynamic and dangerous part of spaceflight,” said Jerry Carek, Space Power Facility manager, in a recent statement. “It takes an incredible amount of power for a rocket to boost a spacecraft like Orion into space. And all that power results in intense shaking. Spacecraft systems have to be specially designed to work in spite of the vibration – this table lets us test them to make sure that they do.”

CNET reports that the Orion spacecraft, a vessel intended to eventually transport astronauts to remote destinations such as Mars, will undergo vibration testing to prepare for launch atop NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, “a rocket more powerful than any in history,” which will deliver 8.6 million pounds of thrust.

“The Orion program was looking for a place to do some one-stop shop testing,” said Nicole Smith, project manager for Orion testing at the Glenn Research Center. “That’s what this facility is. We can completely simulate the environment Orion will see during spaceflight.”

According to Tech Times, the first test for Orion will be on Dec. 4, 2014, when the spacecraft will launch into space atop a Delta 4 Heavy rocket. The second test is scheduled for spring 2015, when Orion will be attached to the powerful SLS rocket, with four more test flights scheduled to follow that launch. The spacecraft is due to one day take Americans to the International Space station and beyond following successful testing.