Japan's HTV spacecraft follow-on: HTV-R (Returnable)


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Now that JAXA has announced the coming end if the existing HTV cargo carrier for ISS program they're working on the next phase: HTV-R (HTV-Returnable), which would be capable of ISS cargo return instead of being disposable.

Take a close look at the new alternative layout - we've seen this layout before (SpaceX's Dragon) :)

Makes one wonder if they chose this configuration because it's pretty much shown bootstrap-able into a crewed configuration.

Concept PDF: http://archive.ists.or.jp/upload_pdf/2013-g-16.pdf

HTV-R concept

htv-r1.png

htv-r2.jpg

Capsule concept

jaxa-crew-capsule.jpg

Wow, if I saw that last picture with out context, I would say that was the dragon capsule.

Except, this thing seems to be internally flipped upside-down compared to Dragon. (Avionics, propellant & thrusters at the top rather than the bottom of the capsule).

It's not quite exact, HTV-R having a 20? sidewall angle vs. Dragon's 15?, but it's close.

That flip severely limits the main interior space vs. putting the tanks etc. in the otherwise harder to use corners below. On Dragon that lower space is also where the life support and environmental controls go. Top storage also makes for a narrow access tunnel to the hatch.

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