NASA Mini-Shuttle

[archipeppe]

According to Dennis Jenkins' "Space Shuttle" book in 1972 the NASA Flight Research Center proposed a single-seat manned scale down model version of the upcoming Orbiter in order to test the flight envelope between Mach numbers 1 to 5 (and even more).

At that times NASA has choosen the general configuration of the STS (040-C) to issue RFP to several industries (Boeing, Mc Donnell-Douglas, Grumman, North American-Rockwell and Lockheed-Martin) but it would be only in mid 1974 that NAR would issue the semi-final configuration of the STS (3/4) and even after the actual one (5/6). This means that the Mini-Shuttle would be rather different by tha actual one especially in wing configuration, OMS pods and tail, as also for the presence of bubble canopy to help pilot visibility.

The Mini-Shuttle would be a sort of incremental vehicle, exploiting a lot of elements taken by other programs (X 15, Apollo, M2-F3, YF-12, F-4, XF-15 etc.). This sort of "puzzle" space vehicle could use different engine, ranging from XLR-11 to XLR-99 (as much X 15), in order to achieve a various range of velocities and assets.

The proposal was rejected due to economical and political consideration. Unlike Russians (who actually built the unmanned scale down model of Bor-5 to test Buran configuration) the Americans did not performed any test (with the except of ALT flights) of the general STS configuration prior of Columbia's maiden flight in 1981.

 

[avatar]

Seems similar to the Mikoyan effort.

 

[archipeppe]

Seems similar to the Mikoyan effort.

Yes.
With the difference that the MiG 105-11 was a full-scale model respect the Spiral OS, while the Mini-Shuttle is scaled-down in respect of STS.

Anyway even Russians had an incremental approach to the matter, the 105-11 was meant to be subsonic whil the 105-12 was to be supersonic and the 105-13 was to be hypersonic (the lattter two was designed but never built).

 

[hesham]

Hi,


I don't know if it was a real Boeing design or not ?.


https://archive.org/stream/missilesrockets1519unse#page/n333/mode/2up

 

[archipeppe]

Hi,


I don't know if it was a real Boeing design or not ?.


https://archive.org/stream/missilesrockets1519unse#page/n333/mode/2up

It seems to be related to some FDL desings of early 60's....

 

[GeorgeA]

And not related to the mini-Shuttle. M&R ceased publication before the STS program began.

 

[Archibald]

Wow, that's wonderful ! Didn't noticed it six years ago. Good job as usual, Archipeppe. I really appreciate this; it comes at the right time.
In my alternate history (you can read it here >http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=366697 ) the shuttle is cancelled late 1971 but the mini-shuttle makes it through (as a kind of consolation reward).
Then the vehicle, rebranded the X-27 (Lockheed is busy elsewhere, so the CL-1200 doesn't exists), become a X-37 thirty years in advance. B)

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Great work, Giuseppe! I had no idea this was even on here!

 

[Orionblamblam]

Hi,


I don't know if it was a real Boeing design or not ?.

Yes. Part of a series of early 60's lifting body logistics vehicle concepts.

 

[archipeppe]

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I wanna thanks XP67_Moonbat and Archibald for the appreciation.[/font]

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]A sort of echo of such project you may find it into the Buck Rogers' pilot when his spacecraft was depicted as a sort of mini Shuttle....[/font]

 

[Dynoman]

From Hypersonic Revolution:

 

[Dynoman]

Sorry to resurrect an old topic, but I found a good overview of the fight by Dryden FRC managers and pilot Milt Thompson to build the mini-Shuttle. From the work, On the Frontier, by Richard P. Hallion. Still looking for the original proposal from Thompson and others on the mini-Shuttle.

 

[publiusr]

There was an article in the Journal of Rockets and Spacecraft about Mini- and Micro-shuttles...

 

[Dew]

There was an article in the Journal of Rockets and Spacecraft about Mini- and Micro-shuttles...

That was a much later study (published '98) and only superficially related (it doesn't even mention the earlier study). The earlier study intended to aid in the development of lower speed/landing aspects of the yet-to-be shuttle orbiter; the latter was a what-if based on smaller scaled increments of the as-developed system (down to 1/5th).

 

[publiusr]

That is worthy of a book and nice artists conceptions alone--the later paper had vehicle stacks that looked to almost fit a tractor trailer. They looked almost cute

 

[PFJN]

Hi,
A couple years ago I tried converting a regular 1/200 scale shuttle modelinto a 1/60 scale mini Shuttle, as shown below. Unfortunately, before I finished it I was sent out of the country for a couple months for business and the model got damaged in storage. Maybe if I could find the missing tail piece and the decals that I bought for it I might try and finish it up soon

 

[danwild6]

I wonder if building the mini would allow the main issue with the Enterprise to be resolved so it would have been economical to put her in orbit.

 

[Byeman]

I wonder if building the mini would allow the main issue with the Enterprise to be resolved so it would have been economical to put her in orbit.

Unrelated. It was just cheaper to build up the STA into orbiter vs tearing down Enterprise and building it back up.

 

[danwild6]

Unrelated. It was just cheaper to build up the STA into orbiter vs tearing down Enterprise and building it back up.

I've read that part of the reason for that was NASA refined its shuttles wing design after Enterprises glide testing

 

[Byeman]

I've read that part of the reason for that was NASA refined its shuttles wing design after Enterprises glide testing

no, they didn't change shape

 

[danwild6]

Ok well if they went ahead with this semi-scale development how would that have changed the procurement of the rest of the orbiters.

 

[Byeman]

Ok well if they went ahead with this semi-scale development how would that have changed the procurement of the rest of the orbiters.

The reason they didn't has been proven out in history. The development of the a semi scale would have little impact on the final design,

 

[Dynoman]

From Hypersonic Revolution II. The Mach 5 version does not show a cockpit. I'm curious if the original proposal considered this unmanned or if it was undecided.

 

[Archibald]

Subscale Shuttle is also detailed in SP-4303 "On the frontier" p. 169-170 (same author, Richard P. Hallion). There seems to be a major technical paper dated August 17, 1972. Unfortunately not available on NTRS.