Various US Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) Projects

From L+K 18/1992,

I don't know if we discuss this subject before or not,what was this VTOL Shuttle ?.
 

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hesham said:
From L+K 18/1992,

I don't know if we discuss this subject before or not,what was this VTOL Shuttle ?.
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That was Martin-Marietta artwork to illustrate the "NIMF" Mars lander, a nuclear-powered vehicle capable of SSTO operation on Mars. This was something of an offshoot of the "Mars Direct" project. The actual NIMF design was a lot simpler and frankly duller than the artwork.
 
hesham said:
elpoderdelasgalaxias.wordpress.com

NAA Phase B (STS proposal): Still Audacious.

Final design presented by North American Aviation at the Space Shuttle selection Phase B ( Jan. 1971) stage. Show here in his high cross-range delta-wing configuration orbited piggy-back mated to t…
elpoderdelasgalaxias.wordpress.com elpoderdelasgalaxias.wordpress.com
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naa-jpg.511699


The artwork would almost remind you of Syd Mead's style.

EDIT: http://www.astronautix.com/s/shuttler134g.html
 
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From Aviation magazine 1969 & 1970.
 

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From Aviation magazine 1963.

THE LARGE NASA LAUNCHER VEHICLES
THE Marshall Center for the Study of Space Flight (NASA) has been working for 15 years on
projects of large launch vehicles, with the collaboration of industry., One of these, which should be
ready in 1970, the start of work being registered in the 1966 budget, consists of a large rocket delta
and high wing bearing on its back another smaller, low-winged delta. The two wings are thus joined
together during the first part of the flight. The departure is assisted by a rocket cart traveling on a
special way. The ascent is carried out by the "second stage of the great delta". The bet on
orbit is the fact of the “third stage small delta” which carries two pilots, 10 passengers
and 3 tonnes of load, while the carrier lands in a conventional manner, De
even, the return to earth of the "little delta" can be done
at airports frequented by
current large jets (?). The
total weight of the assembly will reach 500 tonnes at the start. The
Marshall Space Flight Center
still working on two more
projects, a cargo ship for station
orbital or lunar based on
the “Nova” rocket and a device
22,000 tonnes for 50 to 100
passengers, which would be an extrapolation of the entire delta. These
last two projects would
operational respectively in
1977 and 1980 (from Aviation
Week).
 

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Recently posted to Flickr by the San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Archives, this is a photo of a model of what is described as "Model Shuttle Concept spacecraft U.S. Air Force Silver Gray."

Any ideas of what this is? Given the SDASM connection, maybe it is connected to Convair/GD, possibly an North American Phase B Shuttle concept for a Convair B9U booster or alternative/evolution thereof?

Given the lack of any indication of payload doors, US Air Force markings and the seemingly small cockpit at the very nose of the aircraft, might this instead be an ISINGLASS or RHEINBERRY concept? (If so, or otherwise, please move to the appropriate topic.)
https://flic.kr/p/2j5WE3K
 

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Reminds me of the Blackhorse concept vehicle. However, I don't see an AAR port.
 
Well, it has the wing-tip thruster assemblies which featured on the early versions of the Space Shuttle, and whilst I’m only eyeballing it, the engine looks like it could be a SSME. Could it be a precursor of the Air Launched Sortie Vehicle? Or the TAV?
 
Boxman said:
Recently posted to Flickr by the San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Archives, this is a photo of a model of what is described as "Model Shuttle Concept spacecraft U.S. Air Force Silver Gray."

Any ideas of what this is? Given the SDASM connection, maybe it is connected to Convair/GD, possibly an North American Phase B Shuttle concept for a Convair B9U booster or alternative/evolution thereof?

Given the lack of any indication of payload doors, US Air Force markings and the seemingly small cockpit at the very nose of the aircraft, might this instead be an ISINGLASS or RHEINBERRY concept? (If so, or otherwise, please move to the appropriate topic.)
https://flic.kr/p/2j5WE3K
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Perhaps related to this?
 

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archipeppe said:
Absolutely interesting!
Never saw it before but it seems to share some resemblance to several TAV (Trans Atmospheric Vehicle) of mid 80's, like the Lockeed-Martin's one.

View attachment 634118
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Looks a larger version of the Space Shuttle that we all know and some would say love, does anyone know if there is any information about it? :confused:
 
In_A_Dream said:
Boxman said:
Recently posted to Flickr by the San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Archives, this is a photo of a model of what is described as "Model Shuttle Concept spacecraft U.S. Air Force Silver Gray."

Any ideas of what this is? Given the SDASM connection, maybe it is connected to Convair/GD, possibly an North American Phase B Shuttle concept for a Convair B9U booster or alternative/evolution thereof?

Given the lack of any indication of payload doors, US Air Force markings and the seemingly small cockpit at the very nose of the aircraft, might this instead be an ISINGLASS or RHEINBERRY concept? (If so, or otherwise, please move to the appropriate topic.)
https://flic.kr/p/2j5WE3K
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Perhaps related to this?
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Hi. Nice find. Never ever heard of before. Big Thx for unveiling it.

1 - First of, a nut question for all. On this specific model, there is a tail code K603 or something like that. Is this just an ornamental tail code? Or can it be somewhat related to anything beyond conceptal model, i.e. test article of sorts?

2 - This also reminds me of Zubin's Black Colt / Black Horse but those TAVs all look the same.

3 - This TAV oriject looks like recce (strike), though.

4 - The patch is unrelated as it clearly shows Boeing's RASV

Best

A.
 
Another one something - apparently not Shuttle related. Will move to a new topic soon. Note retractable switch-back canards and enormous NLG bogie.
 

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Orionblamblam said:
Brickmuppet said:
Hesham,
I'm pretty sure those engines were a detachable "kit" intended to fly the orbiter between landing, launching and servicing locations (as opposed to the 747 they actually used). If so, they would not have been used on an orbital flight and landing from orbit would still have been dead stick.
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Correct. It would arguably have been a superior way to ferry the Shuttle back and forth... all you'd need to get the Shuttle back from, say, the Easter Island landing facility would be a cargo aircraft that could deliver the jet pods and fuel. But if the Shuttle did have to put down somewhere unusual, NASA would have a hell of a time picking it up and putting it on the 747.
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Thought the below drawing was already in this thread, but apparently not:
https://www.reddit.com/r/WeirdWings/comments/llso0z
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/WeirdWings/comments/llso0z/the_space_shuttle_also_had_plans_for_jet_engines/
 
Grey Havoc said:
Orionblamblam said:

Correct. It would arguably have been a superior way to ferry the Shuttle back and forth... all you'd need to get the Shuttle back from, say, the Easter Island landing facility would be a cargo aircraft that could deliver the jet pods and fuel. But if the Shuttle did have to put down somewhere unusual, NASA would have a hell of a time picking it up and putting it on the 747.
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Actually, no it wouldn't be superior, but quite the opposite.
A. You don't know the range with the ferry kit*. Easter Island was likely too far away from anywhere.,
b. The retrieval of the shuttle concept was employed for the STS-3 landing at White Sands. Only differences is that the engines or payload didn't have to get removed.
c. The self ferry kit would have required a lot scarring on the orbiter that would have added weight.
d. The self ferrying from an abort site would have require more specialized logistics and operations. LH2 and LO2 with equipment would be needed for fuel cells to power the orbiter during the ferry flight and provide crew breathing air. Like hydrazine* would have to be loaded for hydraulics. There are other things needed for the crew (CO2 removal, Nitrogen, etc)

* Hydrazine, not jet fuel would be the limiting factor. The orbiter only carries enough hydrazine for between 1-2 hours.
 
hesham said:
Did we send this pictures before ?.

No Shortage of Dreams

The story of spaceflight told through missions and programs that did not happen - that is, the great majority of them.
spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com.eg spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com.eg
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(This is a reply to hesham's post 352: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/us-space-shuttle-projects.1928/page-9#post-312728 )

This shuttle model was built in San Antonio, Texas in the early 80s by Bob Fogg of Fogg Models for industrial design firm John Frassanito and Associates from sketches and drawings by designer John Frassanito. It was about 3 feet long and made from basswood with plastic and metal details. John Frassanito later moved his firm to a location on the other side of NASA Road 1 from the main gate to Johnson Space Center when NASA became his main client.
 

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