whoops, Orion parachute failed during the July 31, test
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/orion/pa_chute_test.html
NASA tested the parachutes for the recovery system on its Orion crew exploration vehicle above the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona on July 31. The test proved unsuccessful when a test set-up parachute failed.
Successful as parachutes have been historically, I've never been comfortable with the concept for returning manned spacecraft. I'm no shuttle fan but I'd like to have seen us go with something like a small Hermes spaceplane with a launch escape tower.
Tom C.