Hi!The crew is in the capsule during launch and reentry.Then in orbit they can use both service module and capsule (to have more space available), but what comes back to earth is the capsule only.It is tilted 90deg to avoid the hole for the tunnel to go in the service/hab module in the heat shield.. (maybe it is technically feasible, but would you fly on that?)
Hi again,I see, but they have the capsule in the middle, so in order to escape from the launch pad they need more powerful escape system, right?What I was thinking is that if the capsule is on top you have just to extract it from the launch pad in case of need and no extra modules, so less weight...Am I correct?
Well, sorry but I think that while writing I made some confusion between service module and orbital module.Looking here http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz.html I understand that during a launch abort they pull away the capsule and the orbital module.If the capsule is on top you can leave on the pad the obital module with the service module.
How to keep the capsule balanced on its rim with the 3g I cannot answer sorry, maybe this can already be a show stopper...
Anyway if making holes is the heatshield is considered safe enough (I did not know the TKS design) we can also go that way.
Question, is if safe enough also in case of velocities of a moon reentry?
QuoteAnyway if making holes is the heatshield is considered safe enough (I did not know the TKS design) we can also go that way.There is no need for that with CEV; there is nothing in the service module the crew needs to access.
The other thing is that Orion is assent mass limited, not reentry, so this doesn't really help all that much. It's a good idea though.