Orange and White Comeback

The iconic orange and white parachutes from the end of the Apollo missions are making a comeback for NASA's new Orion spacecraft.

Orion will have the same type of parachute, but made out of a different material that will hold up the heavier module, and help in retrieving the parachutes from the ocean after the watery landing.

Testing for the new parachutes began on a high point, with a dart-shaped vehicle to simulate the chute compartments being used to see how the new design would work.
Some things are very similar to the original design, but one major difference is that there will be two drouge chutes, and the main chutes will open in stages instead of all at once to help support the heavier vehicle.

Orion will be the most advanced spacecraft by the time unmanned flights are being taken in 2014.
In making more technological advances with the systems, the roccket 'stack' is also being modified, mostly in size to be able to carry the heavier craft up through the atmosphere and on its way to the moon.

Source: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/canopy_of_confidence.html