if you do not set the AndroidManifest.xml attributes for actions that handle their own rotations, your activity will be restarted, the GL context will be recreated, and at least any surfaces and buffers that you used will be invalid.
gles 1.1, AndroidManifest.xml, , , , ()
<application android:label="@string/app_name"
android:icon="@drawable/icon"
android:theme="@android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen"
android:debuggable="true">
<activity android:name="MainActivity"
android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation"
android:screenOrientation="nosensor"
android:label="@string/app_name">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
</application>