Optimized Architecture for Passenger Spacecraft

An iterative, integrated systems process for spacecraft architecture has been shown to reduce risk while improving efficiency and performance. Such a process is particularly important for the successful development of human-rated vehicles due to the lower margins and higher emphasis on mission safety and success. The Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) was one of several historically proposed lifeboats for the International Space Station (ISS). It was developed by NASA in the late 1990s until the program’s cancellation due to budgetary pressures in 2002. This paper summarizes the lessons learned from the development process of the CRV in cabin architecture and how they can be applied to the design process and implementation of future passenger spacecraft for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) access, lunar missions and beyond.