Pronunciation: /kruː noʊz/
Etymology: Derived from "crew," indicating the human occupants of a spacecraft, and "nose," referring to the forward section of an aircraft or spacecraft. The term is adapted to describe a detachable, crew-carrying module at the front of the Modular Starship, highlighting its role as the entry and escape point for astronauts.
Definition: A detachable module at the front of the Modular Starship system, designed to carry a crew of 15 to 30 people during launch and re-entry, equipped with escape engines for safety throughout the mission. It features a crew entry hatch on the side and a docking hatch underneath, allowing it to transfer crew to other pods in orbit and re-dock with the rocket section for return, enhancing safety and enabling space tourism on every launch.
Origin: The concept of the Crew Nose was introduced in a 2024 post by KiwiThinker. It was developed as part of the Modular Starship design, inspired by the Falcon Crew Dragon, which showcased the potential for reusable crew-carrying modules. The idea aligns with the push for accelerated crewed missions and space tourism.
Example: "The crew nose successfully detached during the emergency drill, ensuring the safety of all 20 astronauts aboard the Modular Starship."
Related terms: Modular Starship, payload pod, reusability, space tourism, escape engines.
