multi role recovery capsule - 3 side view

Here is  a composite 3 views of the model in order to depict the overall shape of the capsule.

• The front part hosts a Common Berthing Mechanism. It includes a large hatch of 127 cms wide that would have allow astronauts to carry large piece cargo to the Freedom station.
• Beside the hatch, on each side of the capsule are located 2 RCS units in order to steer the spacecraft to and back from the station.
• The bold red line is the edge of the reentry heatshield that ends the Command Module.
• The back side of the ship is the service module. It protects the heatshield upto the reentry sequence, durig launch and maneuvers in orbit. But its main purpose in space is to hosts both the electrical production through solar panel and the telecommunication equipment to send data, voice and video back to earth or through relay satellites.

Related topic on cosmiste.com :

• British Aerospace - Multi role recovery Capsule - 1987

British Aerospace - Multi role recovery Capsule - 1987

In the mid eighties, ESA was to choose a project to give Europe a manned access to space. While the French were pushing to develop the Hermes spaceplane further, the British unveiled a much simpler alternative : The multi-role recovery capsule (MRRC).

British Aerospace made a pre-study for a 7 tons capsule that could carry 4 to 6 persons in orbit. The existing Ariane 4 rocket or some US rockets could be used as the launcher after being man-rated. In BAe’s plan, besides providing Europe with a man access to space, the capsule was envisioned to be also used as a lifeboat for the therefore planned US space station. Unfortunately, despite its versatility, the capsule was dropped by the ESA at the end of 1987 in favor of the ambitious Hermes spaceplane. However, several years later, the Hermes spaceplane will also be cancelled.

I found little information about this project. So I build the 3D model from this single artwork depicting the capsule. 

The capsule includes a Command Module with most probably a Common Berthing Mechanism to dock with the space station Freedom and some RCS thrusters on the top part. Windows and hatch are on the side. On the back is a disposable service module with its solar panel array and the communication antenna. 

References :

1. Marcus Lindroos - Astronautix - http://www.astronautix.com
2. BAe proposes manned capsule - FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 24 October 1987 - http://flightglobal.com