Douglas Satellite Observatory concept from 1959

[martinbayer]

When following the link to http://books.google.com.eg/books?id=G1ujXqwsDcUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=flying+magazine+1959&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xOAOVK67M8iBywOdyIKwBQ&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=flying%20magazine%201959&f=false to the Flying magazine from November 1959 provided by hesham in another thread, I came across a Douglas Space Research ad on page 2 that shows the concept below for a crewed satellite observatory. Note the mention of using an empty propellant tank as a crew habitat, as later applied by Douglas on Skylab.

Martin

 

[carmelo]

Fantastic Lifting body!
Is interesting that in 1959-60 they thought that the logical step n2 in space would have been,lifting bodies and space stations.

 

[martinbayer]

It's really more a 'classic' wing-body though.

Martin