| Description | |
|---|---|
| Role: | Beyond LEO, back-up for commercial cargo and crew to the ISS[1] |
| Crew: | 2-4[2] |
| Carrier Rocket: | Space Launch System[3] (planned) |
| Launch Date: | December 2013 or later (uncrewed test launch)[4] |
| Dimensions | |
| Height: | |
| Diameter: | 5 m (16.5 ft) |
| Pressurized Volume: | 19.56 m3 (691 cu ft) [2] |
| Habitable Volume: | 8.95 m3 (316 cu ft) [2] |
| Capsule Mass: | 8,913 kg (19,650 lb) |
| Service Module Mass: | 12,337 kg (27,198 lb) |
| Total Mass: | 21,250 kg (46,848 lb) |
| Service Module Propellant Mass: | 7,907 kg (17,433 lb) |
| Performance | |
| Total delta-v: | 1,595 m/s |
| Endurance: | 21.1 days[2] |
The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is a planned spacecraft that is being built by Lockheed Martin for NASA, the space agency of the United States, based on designs and tests already completed for the Orion spacecraft. The MPCV was announced by NASA on May 24, 2011.[5] Debut unmanned multi-hour test flight, now known as Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) (formerly OFT-1)[6], was scheduled for a launch aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket in July 2013.[7] EFT-1 is now set for December 2013 and may slip to 2014.[8]
Contents |
The MPCV is being developed for crewed missions to an asteroid and then to Mars. The capsule is also planned as a backup vehicle for cargo and crewed missions to the International Space Station. It will be launched by the Space Launch System.[9][10]
The MPCV resembles its Apollo-era predecessors, but its technology and capability are more advanced. It is designed to support long-duration deep space missions of up to six months. The spacecraft's life support, propulsion, thermal protection and avionics systems are designed to be upgradeable as new technologies become available.
The MPCV spacecraft includes both crew and service modules, and a spacecraft adaptor.
The MPCV's crew module is larger than Apollo's and can support more crew members for short or long-duration spaceflight missions. The service module fuels and propels the spacecraft as well as storing oxygen and water for astronauts. The service module's structure is also being designed to provide locations to mount scientific experiments and cargo.
The crew module is the transportation capsule that provides a habitat for the crew, provides storage for consumables and research instruments, and serves as the docking port for crew transfers. The crew module is the only part of the MPCV that returns to Earth after each mission.
The crew module will have 316 cubic feet (8.9 m3) and capabilities of carrying four astronauts for 21 day flights itself which could be expanded through additional service modules.[11] Its designers claim that the MPCV is designed to be 10 times safer during ascent and entry than the Space Shuttle.[10]
Like the Apollo service modules, the MPCV service module supports the crew module from launch through separation prior to reentry. It provides in-space propulsion capability for orbital transfer, attitude control, and high altitude ascent aborts. When mated with the crew module, it provides the water and oxygen needed for a habitable environment, generates and stores electrical power while on-orbit, and maintains the temperature of the vehicle's systems and components.
This module can also transport unpressurized cargo and scientific payloads.
NASA is seriously considering having the ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle evolve into the role of Orion's Service Module sometime after 2015.[12]
MPCV Related:
CCDev Related:
Other Countries:
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