Why does Orion need a side hatch?

[Kerbface]

Just wondering, what's the necessity of this when the side hatch isn't connected to an airlock anyway, so it's essentially the same as the docking hatch? It just opens an area large enough for a human to get through. Couldn't they evacuate the craft and do EVA when necessary with the docking hatch?

[goldenpeach]

I don't know exactly but I think that entering a pod by the side is easier than climbing on the pod and entering from the up.

The same apply for exiting the pod.

The used an side hatch for apollo,mercury,gemini and the space shuttle.

By the way,if you want to watch the recovery test live,go at this link.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ustream_media.html#.Ugz5IalRl9v

[SuperFastJellyfish]

I imagine it would be hard/impossible to enter the capsule with the LES in place.

[nothke]

Simple, better have 2 hatches than one. Imagine if the docking system fails and gets jammed and you need a way to leave the capsule. Or if the side hatch fails, you can use the top one. Shuttle had a side hatch cause they didn't carry docking apparatus on every mission.

[magnemoe]

I imagine it would be hard/impossible to enter the capsule with the LES in place.

Good point probably the main reason. You need to enter it on the pad, however its an good idea to have two doors.

[Nibb31]

For ingress and egress of course. Also for EVA (Orion is designed to be able to act as an airlock when attached to another module) or for contingency situations. Two hatches aire also a safety requirement in case one of them gets jammed for some reason.

[drakesdoom]

R.I.P. Bill Kerman

Famous Last words "WHO FORGOT TO BOLT THE HANDLE TO THE DOOR"