Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle

The Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle ( MPCV, sometimes also referred to as the Orion MPCV, English for multi-purpose crew vehicle), the project name is for a planned spacecraft NASA to meet the requirements for space exploration from the Authorization Act 2010, after the end of the Constellation program, should fulfill. As a reference, the spacecraft so far developed under the Constellation program Orion CEV is selected.

Requirements

The minimum requirements that have resulted from the Authorization Act, 2010:

• The spacecraft must be used as personal transport ship on the LEO addition.
• The spacecraft must rendezvous to perform in space.
• The spacecraft must be used as a passenger and payload transporter to the ISS.
• The spacecraft must be able to develop efficient and timely manner.

The full operational capability to be achieved by 31 December 2016, with a funding of 3.92 billion U.S. dollars, is planned.

Technology

The basic design of the MPCV is reminiscent of the Apollo spacecraft, but it has to 19,55 m³ about the triple habitable volume. In addition to the crew module, there are several service modules. Depending on whether the spacecraft flies only in the LEO to the ISS or whether it visits a planet or asteroid, a special module is used.

The service module is designed and manufactured under European management. The power supply comes from four controllable in two axes solar panels that are deployed in the parking orbit and are intended to provide a total of 11 kW. The service module contains the consumables (oxygen, nitrogen, and water ) for the crew and the cooling for the entire spaceship. His driving ability is lower than with Apollo, as a possible lander is brought independently to the destination.

In order to carry the spacecraft into orbit, is (up to the first test mission) the newly developed Space Launch System used. Above the crew module is again analogous to Apollo, the Launch Abort System ( LAS) attached, which is equipped with its own engine. So it can start and allow the crew a safe landing with the normal parachute system of the CM in an emergency during the ascent or still on the launch pad of the rocket from. After a successful start, the LAS is separated from the spacecraft.

The MPCV does not end up like the space shuttle, as a sail missile, but plunges into the atmosphere and eventually ends up at several parachutes in the water, where it is salvaged from a ship. The heat shield must be in re-entering the atmosphere can withstand extreme temperatures of up to 2800 ° C, as the MPCV is also provided for missions to Mars. Characterized in the return speed of nearly 44,000 km / h can be achieved.

Planned missions

As the first unmanned mission is EFT -1 (Exploration Flight Test ) planned whose launch is scheduled for December 2014. The MPCV is here yet started on a Delta IV Heavy from Space Launch Complex 37 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, as the actual carrier system SLS is not yet available at this time available, and then spend several hour flight with two times around the world. The second mission EM-1 (Exploration Mission ) to 2017Vorlage: / unmanned future lead in 3 years, with the maiden flight of the SLS to the Moon, the third mission EM-2 between 2019Vorlage: Future / In 5 years, and in 2021 then manned in the lunar orbit. In the two missions EM-1 and EM - 2, a work based on the European ATV service module to be used. An agreement between NASA and ESA has been made in late 2012, this includes the possibility of the participation of ESA astronauts on the first manned mission EM -2.

History of development

2012

On 29 February 2012 was carried out with a test version of the MPCV a parachute test. A plane dropped from the test object in about eight kilometers altitude. It then landed successfully at a speed of about 27 km / h on the ground. The first eight of the 1300 heat protection tiles were manufactured. They are mounted on the side of the MPCV and to protect the crew during re-entry from the heat.

On 21 April 2012, the Orion Ground Test Article (GTA ) arrived at Kennedy Space Center. It has the same shape as the MPCV and is intended to develop the procedures for the handling of the spacecraft before launch and to rehearse. In the test lab for navigation in Florida sensors were connected to the computers and the flight software for the first time. How could a first simulation of takeoff and landing can be performed.

After the main body of the MPCV was completed, he was sent in June 2012 to the Kennedy Space Center. There he was received in a ceremony with over 450 people.

To test the landing in the sea, a test body in the NASA Langley Research Center was thrown from up to 8.5 m height in a large basin in August. This is important to find out how the MPCV behaves in different weight on landing. Moreover, the four windows were installed on the crew module.

After the hatch was installed, a first pressure test was carried out in October. It was pumped into the module, until the pressure reached about 65% of the maximum pressure air. In a further pressure test in November, which reached 100 % of the maximum pressure were in three cracks, which had to be analyzed and then repaired.

2013

In January 2013, the skin of the heat shield was mounted on the skeletal structure. This plate must bear the temperature of about 2800 ° C at a return of almost 44,000 km / h can withstand from Mars.

On May 1, 2013 found in Yuma (Arizona ), a further drop of the Orion Command Module from an aircraft instead, in which the safe landing successfully been tested with parachutes. Unlike the previous attempts, some failure scenarios were tested at the parachutes. The capsule has the largest parachute system that has ever built for a manned spaceship.

On 5 December 2013, the completed heat shield for EFT - 1, the Kennedy Space Center reached. He was from Manchester ( New Hampshire) flown aboard a Super Guppy to Florida.

EFT -1 body

EFT -1 heat shield at Kennedy Space Center

2014

On January 16, 2014, a further drop of the capsule was held. For the first time it was equipped with the panel as it should be later used in space flight. The successful blasting off this disguise was a prerequisite in order to deploy the parachutes can. The test has been successfully completed.

On 21 January 2014 after harsh criticism regarding the shifted dates of the ESA, the head of the ESA assured a completion of the service module, as planned, by 2017.

In March 2014 it was announced that the originally planned for September 2014 first flight of the capsule EFT -1 has been postponed to December 2014. While it is still building the space capsule and launch vehicle on schedule for a launch in the fall, but the U.S. Air Force was given with the launch of two spy satellites of priority. But still, the capsule is to be completed as planned in September at the latest, so that can dedicate the construction employed with the team of specialists then as planned the production of the second Orion spaceship for EM-1. Thus, it should pass through the shift will not affect the appointment of EM-1, however, important data and findings from the maiden flight EFT -1 are now too late for the Critical Design Review is available.