Europe wants its own space capsule

1994/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronautika

Americans and Russians have agreed to put a station into orbit onwards. The project has been called Ralpha, but Europeans also want to participate in it. Among other things, the Hermes space plane will be abandoned and it is expected to prepare capsules for the launcher “Ariane 5”. The Columbus program on pressurized modules has also been modified to arrive and come from the orbital station.

The capsules will be of two types: CTV (Crew Transfer Vehicle) and ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle). The first ones (the model is shown) will be able to transport between 500 and 1000 kg of material. The space station will be supplied by these and to it, in addition to the material, the crew members will be transported or brought up to a maximum of eight times. ATVs will only carry material.

On the other hand, the European organizations ESA, “Aerospace” of France and DASA of Germany are analyzing the vehicle ACR (Assured Crew Return Vehicle). Both the launcher “Ariane 5” and the space will be able to send in case of emergency (by illness of the crew, serious breakdown, etc. ).