NASA MPCV

NASA's MPCV now cancelled and re-defined as Orion (See also Orion)

With four commercial companies working on projects to take astronauts to the International Space Station, Nasa is free to focus on journeys further into space, this is where the MPCV or Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle comes in.

"We are committed to human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit"

Charles Bolden, Nasa

Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle

• • Unknown launch date

  • Unknown launch vehicle

  • 4 total crew capacity

  • $5bn Nasa funding so far

  • Sea landings with parachutes

The craft could be involved in missions to visit asteroids by the 2020s and Mars by the 2030s.

It will be able to take four astronauts on missions lasting up to 21 days. The MPCV is based on the uncompleted Orion spacecraft - a key part of the Constellation space programme launched by then US President George W Bush but cancelled by his successor Barack Obama because of its cost.

Orion

The main criteria for the Orion is to allow deep space travel, high speed re-entry back to Earth and also long duration life support systems.

First test flight of a non-manned Orion on top of a Delta IV Heavy rocket for 4 hour flight to test the high speed 20,000 mph re-entry is slated for the end of 2014 with the second unmanned test towards the moon in 2017 on the maiden flight of the new SLS rocket design for Orion.

The target date to launch a manned rated Orion with full life support and using SLS rocket is for 2021.

Proposed SLS rocket, larger versions to follow.