The Crew Exploration Vehicle

[ascan1984]

Does anyone know in terms of cockpit size what the CEV will be. Aka will it be much bigger than the Apollo command module.

 

[ascan1984]

Thats no inside comand module. Wow they will be comfortable on there trip. The apollo looks tiny to that. I am concerned that all four will land on the moon. What happens if there is a problem with the command module type spacecraft.

 

[nacnud]

Thats a mock up of the 5.5m capsule. Currently the capsule is only 5m in diameter.

 

[mlorrey]

Looks like a Cabin of Camp Coucamonga.... gee, do they get to make s'mores, too?

 

[tomnackid]

S'mores might be a little difficult without an open fire (stupid safety regs!), but expect to here a lot of "Kumbya".

 

[tomnackid]

"Thats a mock up of the 5.5m capsule. Currently the capsule is only 5m in diameter."<br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Yeah that's Andrews Aerospace's 6 man, 5.5 meter mock up. I've read that much of the 0.5 meter reduction can be made in the space between the pressure vessel wall and the outer hull so the 5 meter capsule interior won't be too much smaller (we'll see). Reducing the diameter by 0.5 meters reduces the heat sheild from about 95 square meters to 78.5 square meters. A significant reduction in mass. <br /><br />ERRATA: OK, I screwed up one of the simplest formulas in all of geometry! I inserted the base DIAMETER instead of RADIUS when calculating the area of the heat shield--doh! The actual numbers are aprox. 23.8 square meters for the 5.5 meter capsule and 19.6 square meters for the 5 meter capsule for a savings of about 4.2 square meters.

 

[jschaef5]

The command module looks pretty sweet. I wouldn't mind flying in it <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[josh_simonson]

Here's a picture from the report showing the various sizes side by side:

 

[askold]

The little first aid kit is a nice touch. Even 250,000 miles from home it's comforting to know that a band aid is nearby.

 

[mikejz]

Boy that almost reminds me of when I went to the RV show, 'they looks so small on the outside, its amazing how they make the inside feel so roomy'

 

[baktothemoon]

I have only one question that everyone who gets an RV asks: Where the heck is the bathroom?

 

[mlorrey]

See that balloon?

 

[trailrider]

There's no CENTER seat! Where is Capt. Kirk (or will it be Capt. Xiange) going to sit? I want a center seat! <br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!

 

[tomnackid]

Also I should note that the couches and instruments are purely conjectural at this point. They are just playing around with possible interiors. The couches are just cots and the control panels are made of foam core! Expect the interior of the real CEV to be much more cluttered! In fact, as I understand it NASA prefers not to have the couches stacked vertically above each other as shown here (In case they break loose during and extra hard landing?) NASA's prefered interior would divide the capslue from apex to base. Four couches would fit abrast in the "upper bay". For lunar mission, equipent, stores, and the all important bathroom would be in the "lower bay". For a six crew ISS mission two extra couches would be installed in the lower bay. Andrews also has a really cool picture of a ten crew version--picture a cross between a teepee and an army barracks.

 

[mikejz]

Actually If i remember right during the initial proposals T-Space proposed having couches that were basically just cots. The frames contained the shock absorbers. Claimed to weight 1/10th of apollo style couches.

 

[mikejz]

Actually If i remember right during the initial proposals T-Space proposed having couches that were basically just cots. The frames contained the shock absorbers. Claimed to weight 1/10th of apollo style couches.

 

[propforce]

Hey... where's the giant plasma big screen TV and the refrigerator for the BEERS ????? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mikejz]

They would use LCD displays instead of plasma---use less power. As for the Beer, I would prefer my astronauts to be whiskey drinkers.

 

[propforce]

<font color="yellow">As for the Beer, I would prefer my astronauts to be whiskey drinker</font><br /><br />Commie !! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nacnud]

No, that would be Vodka.

 

[TheShadow]

<i>Here's a picture from the report showing the various sizes side by side:</i><br /><br />You picture was too wide for the post window. Please reduce the width to no more than 700 pixels wide and resubmit it. Thank you. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><font size="1" color="#808080">Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men, the Shadow knows. </font></p> </div>

 

[comga]

"For lunar mission, equipent, stores, and the all important bathroom would be in the "lower bay". For a six crew ISS mission two extra couches would be installed in the lower bay."<br /><br />Apollo on steroids indeed. This is very reminicient of CM-119, the Skylab rescue capsule that was equiped with two additional seats below the main three. For lunar mission, this space was used for storing equipment and moon rocks. <br /><br />Attached image from astronautix.com, I believe.

 

[TheShadow]

I'll resize it an put it up for you. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><font size="1" color="#808080">Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men, the Shadow knows. </font></p> </div>

 

[john_316]

Ummmm cant they just insert a Mini-van into orbit instead? That might take DaimlerChrysler stock up!!!!<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />

 

[tomnackid]

Except the CEV would be divided horizontally (from apex to base). Here is a artist's impression f NASA's preferred layout with four across in the "upper" deck with pilots on the outside couches looking through the inset windows and the "lower" deck for equipment and extra seats (and most importantly a comode!). One of the early architecture reports said tat they wanted to avoid stacking crew seats--maybe they are worried about crew members falling out of their couch and landing on a crewmate during launch or landing! But with the reduction to 5 meters they may have no choice.