ESA's Crew Rescue Vehicle

ESA is performing preliminary studies on two manned transport vehicles for the International Space Station. In 1998 ESA will propose to member states either full cooperation with NASA on the lifting-body Crew Rescue Vehicle (CRV) or independent development of the capsule-type Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV). CRV (shown here) would be launched in the Shuttle cargo bay, returning to land with parafoil and up to 6 crewmembers. [Image Date: 01-06-97] [97.06.021-005]