Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle
Encyclopedia
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Role: | Beyond LEO, back-up for commercial cargo and crew to the ISS |
| Crew: | 2-4 |
| Carrier Rocket: | Space Launch System Space Launch System The Space Launch System, or SLS, is a Space Shuttle-derived heavy launch vehicle being designed by NASA, following the cancellation of the Constellation Program, to replace the retired Space Shuttle. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 envisions the transformation of the Ares I and Ares V vehicle... (planned) |
| Launch Date: | December 2013 or later |
| Dimensions | |
| Height: | |
| Diameter: | 5 m (16.5 ft) |
| Pressurized Volume: | 19.56 m³ (691 cu ft) |
| Habitable Volume: | 8.95 m³ (316 cu ft) |
| 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 |
The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is a planned spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
that is being built by Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, 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. Debut unmanned multi-hour test flight, now known as Exploration Flight Test 1
Exploration Flight Test 1
Exploration Flight Test 1 or EFT-1 is the first planned test flight of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle...
(EFT-1) (formerly OFT-1), was scheduled for a launch aboard a Delta IV Heavy
Delta IV Heavy
The Delta IV Heavy is expendable rocket, the largest type of the Delta IV family.It is similar to the Medium+ , except that it uses two additional CBCs instead of using GEMs. These are strap-on boosters which are separated earlier in the flight than the center CBC. The Delta IV Heavy also features...
rocket in July 2013. EFT-1 is now set for December 2013 and may slip to 2014.
Mission
The MPCV is being developed for crewed missions to an asteroid and then to MarsMars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. The capsule is also planned as a backup vehicle for cargo and crewed missions to the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
. It will be launched by the Space Launch System
Space Launch System
The Space Launch System, or SLS, is a Space Shuttle-derived heavy launch vehicle being designed by NASA, following the cancellation of the Constellation Program, to replace the retired Space Shuttle. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 envisions the transformation of the Ares I and Ares V vehicle...
.
Design
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.
Crew Module
The crew module is the transportation capsule that provides a hospitable 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. Its designers claim that the MPCV is designed to be 10 times safer during ascent and entry than the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
.
Service Module
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
Automated Transfer Vehicle
The Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency . ATVs are designed to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, payload and experiments...
evolve into the role of Orion's Service Module sometime after 2015.
Existing craft and mockup models
- Boilerplate Test Article (BTA) is currently undergoing splashdown testing at the Hydro Impact Basin of NASA's Langley Research CenterLangley Research CenterLangley Research Center is the oldest of NASA's field centers, located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It directly borders Poquoson, Virginia and Langley Air Force Base...
. - The Ground Test Article (GTA) stack, located at Lockheed Martin in Denver, is undergoing vibration testing. It is made up by the Orion Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) combined with it's Launch Abort System (LAS). Further testing will see the addition of Service Module simulator panels and Thermal Protection System (TPS) to the GTA stack.
- The Drop Test Article is undergoing test drops at the US Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. The mock Orion parachute compartment is dropped from an altitude of 25,000 feet from a C-130.
- Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) Orion (re-designation of OFT-1) is currently under construction at Michoud Assembly FacilityMichoud Assembly FacilityThe Michoud Assembly Facility is an 832-acre site owned by NASA and located in New Orleans East, a large district within the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Organizationally, it is part of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center...
.
See also
MPCV Related:- NASA Authorization Act of 2010NASA Authorization Act of 2010The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 is a U.S. law which authorizes NASA appropriations for fiscal years 2011–2013 with the same top-line budget values as requested by President of the United States Barack Obama...
- Space policy of the Barack Obama administration
- Crew Exploration VehicleCrew Exploration VehicleThe Crew Exploration Vehicle was the conceptual component of the U.S. NASA Vision for Space Exploration that later became known as the Orion spacecraft...
(previous version) - NEO mission
- Exploration of MarsExploration of MarsThe exploration of Mars has been an important part of the space exploration programs of the Soviet Union, the United States, Europe, and Japan. Dozens of robotic spacecraft, including orbiters, landers, and rovers, have been launched toward Mars since the 1960s...
- Manned mission to MarsManned mission to MarsA manned mission to Mars has been the subject of science fiction, engineering, and scientific proposals throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century...
- Space Launch SystemSpace Launch SystemThe Space Launch System, or SLS, is a Space Shuttle-derived heavy launch vehicle being designed by NASA, following the cancellation of the Constellation Program, to replace the retired Space Shuttle. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 envisions the transformation of the Ares I and Ares V vehicle...
- Space Exploration Vehicle
- Nautilus-XNautilus-XNautilus-X is a multi-mission space exploration vehicle imagined by the Technology Applications Assessment Team by NASA....
CCDev
Commercial Crew Development
Commercial Crew Development is a multiphase space technology development program, funded by the U.S. government, and administered by NASA. The program is intended to stimulate development of privately operated crew vehicles to low Earth orbit. It is run by the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program...
Related:
- CST-100 Crew capsule being developed by Boeing
- DragonDragon (spacecraft)The Dragon is a reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX, a private space transportation company based in Hawthorne, California. During its unmanned maiden flight in December 2010, it became the first commercially-built and -operated spacecraft to ever be successfully recovered from orbit.The Dragon...
being developed by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) - Dream Chaser being developed by Sierra Nevada CorporationSierra Nevada CorporationSierra Nevada Corporation is an electronic systems provider and systems integrator specializing in microsatellites, energy, telemedicine, nanotechnology, and commercial orbital transportation services. The company contracts with the US military, NASA and private spaceflight companies. The company...
- As-yet-unnamed "biconic nose cone designNose cone designGiven the problem of the aerodynamic design of the nose cone section of any vehicle or body meant to travel through a compressible fluid medium , an important problem is the determination of the nose cone geometrical shape for optimum performance...
orbital vehicle" being developed by Blue OriginBlue OriginBlue Origin is a privately funded aerospace company set up by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. The company was awarded $3.7 million in funding in 2009 by NASA via a Space Act Agreement under the Commercial Crew Development program for development of concepts and technologies to support future human...
.. not to be confused with the Blue Origin New ShepardBlue Origin New ShepardThe Blue Origin New Shepard reusable launch vehicle is a vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing , suborbital manned rocket that is being developed by Blue Origin, a company owned by Amazon.com founder and businessman Jeff Bezos, as a commercial system for suborbital space tourism.The New Shepard makes...
"vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVLVTVLVertical takeoff, vertical landing is a form of takeoff and landing using rockets . Multiple VTVL craft have flown. , at least five VTVL rocket vehicles are currently under development at four different aerospace companies...
), suborbital manned rocket" also being developed by Blue Origin
Other Countries:
- Soyuz (spacecraft) & Progress (spacecraft) used by the Russian Federal Space AgencyRussian Federal Space AgencyThe Russian Federal Space Agency , commonly called Roscosmos and abbreviated as FKA and RKA , is the government agency responsible for the Russian space science program and general aerospace research. It was previously the Russian Aviation and Space Agency .Headquarters of Roscosmos are located...
(RKA) - Prospective Piloted Transport SystemProspective Piloted Transport SystemPPTS , unofficially called Rus, is a project being undertaken by the Russian Federal Space Agency to develop a new-generation manned spacecraft...
(PPTS) in development by the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA) - Shenzhou (spacecraft) used by the China National Space AdministrationChina National Space AdministrationThe China National Space Administration is the national space agency of the People's Republic of China responsible for the national space program. It is responsible for planning and development of space activities...
(CNSA) - ISRO Orbital VehicleISRO Orbital VehicleThe Indian manned spacecraft temporarily named Orbital Vehicle is intended to be the basis of the indigenous Indian human spaceflight program. The capsule will be designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capability.In its maiden...
developed by the Indian Space Research OrganisationIndian Space Research OrganisationThe Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...
(ISRO) - Automated Transfer VehicleAutomated Transfer VehicleThe Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency . ATVs are designed to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, payload and experiments...
used by the European Space AgencyEuropean Space AgencyThe European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA) - Crew Space Transportation SystemCSTSCSTS or ACTS is a human spaceflight system proposal. It was originally a joint project between the European Space Agency and the Russian Space Agency , but is now solely an ESA project...
(CSTS) in development by the European Space Agency (ESA) - H-II Transfer VehicleH-II Transfer VehicleThe H-II Transfer Vehicle , called , is an unmanned resupply spacecraft used to resupply the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module and the International Space Station . The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has been working on the design since the early 1990s. The first mission, HTV-1, was originally...
used by the Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyJapan Aerospace Exploration AgencyThe , or JAXA, is Japan's national aerospace agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on October 1, 2003, as an Independent Administrative Institution administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the...
(JAXA)