spacetoday.net: Northrop-Boeing team unveils CEV design

Posted: Thu, Oct 13, 2005, 8:31 AM ET (1231 GMT)
Northrop-Boeing CEV design (Northrop Grumman)

A team led by aerospace companies Northrop Grumman and Boeing unveiled their design Wednesday for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). The Northrop-Boeing CEV design is similar to the conceptual design that NASA revealed in September when the space agency outlined its exploration architecture. The cone-shaped CEV is superficially similar to Apollo, but is capable of carrying six people instead of Apollo's three, as well as additional propellant for orbit changes. The spacecraft would also be able to operate autonomously in lunar orbit for up to six months while its crew is on the surface. The Northrop-Boeing team is one of two competing for the CEV contract; the other, led by Lockheed Martin, displayed its lifting body CEV concept earlier this year, before the new NASA exploration study was completed.