Crew Modules - friznit/Unofficial-BDB-Wiki GitHub Wiki
Mercury
This one man capsule sees use on the Etoh (Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle) for sub-orbital test flights and later the Bossart-D (Atlas-D Mercury) for orbital flights.
Tags: Hermes
One man Mercury lab concept intended to be launched on an Atlas-Agena LV-3A
Gemini
Bridging the gap between Hermes (Mercury) and Kane (Apollo), the two man Leo (Gemini) Command Pod introduces a number of innovations including a docking port and a service module that also serves as an adaptor for the Titan II Gemini Launch Vehicle. A variety of extras are available, including a "Rumble Seat" crew extension, Lunar Flyby concept and the Shuguang and Arrow alternate history versions of Gemini.
Tags: Leo
The Advanced Gemini programme proposed a range of applications for the spacecraft. There are several Gemini Ferry propositions for both manned and unmanned cargo flights and Big Gemini or "Big G" is intended to provide large-capacity, all-purpose access to space for up to 12 crew.
Apollo
Block 1 was abandoned during testing and replaced with the safer and more capable Block 2. With a 3 man crew, the design was meant to be a general purpose orbiter but was modified for a Direct Ascent Mun landing before being pressed into service for Munar Orbit Rendezvous. The flexibility of the design is testament to its superb engineering.
Tags: Kane
Block II
The later Apollo missions included a suite of experiments packed inside the Service Module SIM bay.
Block III
Block III was conceptualised for the Apollo Applications Project as a cut down CSM for low orbit missions. It features in the Eyes Turned Skyward alt history as a ferry for Skylab 5 and early Spacelab missions.
Block III+ & Block IV
Eyes Turned Skyward envisions a more efficiently designed interior and the addition of an Orbital Mission Module to expand total crew capacity to 5 or provide additional living space for deep space missions. Block IV is built to use the additional payload capacity of the Saturn M02. It has on an extended service module (common with Aardvark Block II) and features a larger, more capable Mission Module.
Block V
Block V is a a developmental crew transport vehicle for Project Constellation, aiming to carry crew to the Earth-Moon L2 Lagrange region.
ASTP
The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) was the first crewed international space mission and the last manned US spaceflight until the launch of the Space Shuttle six years later. The mission required a modified Apollo with extra propellant tanks and a specialised docking module compatible with both spacecraft. Historically, Apollo was the 'active' spacecraft that manoeuvred into position to dock with Soyuz.
The Apollo command and service module is launched on a Saturn IB with the ASTP docking module stowed in the launch-vehicle adapter using a purpose-built SLA truss. Once in orbit, the CSM extracts the docking module and manoeuvres into position to dock with Soyuz. Soyuz 7K-TM and compatible docking ports are available in the Tantares mod and a build guide is available on the Unofficial Tantares Wiki.
