NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA engineers conducted a successful first drop test of the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) boilerplate test article on Tuesday, July 12. The test article, which weighs 22,700 pounds (10,297 kg), was going about 24 mph (38.6 kph) at impact.

Expanding the capabilities of the gantry, NASA’s recently constructed Hydro Impact Basin is furthering the knowledge and testing of space vehicle landing systems like the MPCV. Additional drop tests at greater velocities will be conducted throughout the summer.

The Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is based on the Orion design requirements for traveling beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The MPCV will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities.

• Spacecraft to serve as the primary crew vehicle for missions beyond LEO
• Capable of conducting regular in-space operations (rendezvous, docking, extravehicular activity) in conjunction with payloads delivered by SLS for missions beyond LEO
• Capability to be a backup system for ISS cargo and crew delivery

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