Various US Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) Projects

[XP67_Moonbat]

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/06/24/side-mount-shuttle.html

 

[robunos]

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/06/24/side-mount-shuttle.html

It's Shuttle-C all over again..............

cheers,
Robin.

 

[PMN1]

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/06/24/side-mount-shuttle.html

Anything but DIRECT/Jupiter.....

 

[hesham]

Hi,

http://mm04.nasaimages.org/MediaManager/srvr?mediafile=/Size4/nasaNAS-9-NA/63790/9902018.jpg&userid=1&username=admin&resolution=4&servertype=JVA&cid=9&iid=nasaNAS&vcid=NA&usergroup=Marshall_-_nasa-9-Admin&profileid=41

 

[hesham]

I can't believe that,Rockwell shuttle with canard !.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740008138_1974008138.pdf

 

[flateric]

'Space Tomcat', yeah

 

[hesham]

Hi,

herte is the North American/Rockwell impression of the space shuttle concept
of the 1971.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%200148.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,

Here is Grumman shuttle idea of 1970.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200323.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%201613.html
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%201616.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,

the Grumman/Boeing space shuttle concept of 1971.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%200791.html?search=REUSABLE

 

[hesham]

Hi,

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%202121.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,

the Rockwell shuttle concept of 1971.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202832.html

 

[Triton]

Martin Astrorocket (1963)

Text by Marcus Lindroos from the late Space pages. Since Marcus doesn't seem to be creating a new web site for the pages, I thought that I would add this information.

Both NASA and the military investigated various reusable TSTO launch vehicle concepts during the early 1960s. In November 1962, the heads of the military and civilian future space transportation efforts signed an agreement to coordinate their hypersonic research vehivle programs. The U.S. Air Force initially was very interested in airbreathing HTHL SSTO aerospaceplanes -- General Dynamics and North American received $1.5-million contracts for preliminary USAF concept studies in June 1963 and the Department of Defense had spent some $46 million on advanced airbreathing vehicle research by FY 1963 -- but quickly concluded that scramjets and other propulsion systems were not yet sufficiently lightweight and efficient for single-stage vehicles. Airbreathing propulsion and rocket propulsion on HTHL TSTO boosters, on the other hand, would be bigger since they require large wings and huge hydrogen fuel tanks and consequently have a higher dry mass which translates to higher cost. For these reasons, NASA preferred all-rocket TSTO boosters for its "Space Transporter" class of vehicle, since the required engines already had been developed for the Saturn program. The Space Transporter studies were based on the following specifications: (1) 10 passengers + crew of 2 with 3,000kg of cargo to LEO, (2) reduced payload into polar orbit, (3) maximum acceleration of three G, (4) 95% mission reliability and 99.9% probability of passenger survival, and (5) launch rate options of four, eight and sixteen per month over an operational period of 10 years. In general, the 1960s RLV studies were focused on mission/technology requirements rather than detailed vehicle design. NASA's main priorities for the 1970s were large space stations and manned lunar & planetary missions; the reusable "space transporters" and post-Saturn heavy-lift rockets were simply regarded as necessary adjuncts to reduce the transportation cost.

NASA initially regarded horizontally launched TSTOs as safer for passenger transport than vertically launched systems, since the launch G-loads are reduced and the abort characteristics are better than for VLs. However, the US Air Force had more flexibility with respect to G limits and was willing to consider both vertically and horizontally launched Aerospaceplanes. Martin's "Astrorocket" would have been launched vertically because the designers felt the VL mode frees design from gross liftoff weight constraints (Martin regarded about 450t as the upper limit for a HTHL TSTO). The vertical takeoff mode would provide additional mission flexibility since no rocket powered horizontal launch sled would be required. The Astrorocket would have used less efficient but storable hypergolic propellants on both stages so consequently the liftoff weight was high: 1134t. The payload capability to a 555km orbit was only 2.27t and the crew of three astronauts could stay in orbit for up to two weeks. Both stages carry turbojets for powered landing and self-ferry between launch sites. The liftoff thrust would be 13,350KN and stage separation would occur at an altitude of 64km while the vehicle is travelling at 9600km/h.

Specifications:

Liftoff Thrust: 1,320,820 kgf. Total Mass: 1,133,786 kg. Core Diameter: 7.0 m. Total Length: 78.0 m. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 36.00 million. in 1985 unit dollars.

Stage Number: 1. 1 x Astrorocket-1 Gross Mass: 981,859 kg. Empty Mass: 132,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 1,500,000 kgf. Isp: 293 sec. Burn time: 164 sec. Isp(sl): 258 sec. Diameter: 7.0 m. Span: 40.0 m. Length: 65.0 m. Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50 No Engines: 9. LR87+

Stage Number: 2. 1 x Astrorocket-2 Gross Mass: 151,927 kg. Empty Mass: 23,500 kg. Thrust (vac): 220,000 kgf. Isp: 345 sec. Burn time: 181 sec. Isp(sl): 230 sec. Diameter: 3.0 m. Span: 20.0m. Length: 30.0 m. Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50 No Engines: 1. LR87+

Bibliography:

"Reusable Launch Vehicles" -- Osmun, Space/Aeronautics 1964/September/p.43

"Space Transporter Study" -- SPACEFLIGHT 1965/p.124

Frontiers of Space -- Bono & Gatland, Macmillan, New York, 1969.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070609090821/www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld002.htm

 

[Triton]

North American and General Dynamics Phase B Shuttle (1970)

Text by Marcus Lindroos from the late Space pages.

Illustration depicts an early shuttle Phase-B design by North American / General Dynamics. NASA awarded two $8-million Phase-B contracts to consortiums led by North American Rockwell and McDonnell-Douglas in May 1970. The booster (model B8D) was based on an earlier General Dynamics Phase-A study while the low-crossrange straight-wing “NAR-130” orbiter was designed by North American Rockwell.

North American “NAR-130” low crossrange orbiter reentry. The straight-wing design would remain a secondary option until late 1971 mostly due to internal NASA politics although nobody seriously believed it would ever be built.

North American / General Dynamics shuttle on the launch pad. When NASA awarded the shuttle Phase-B study contracts, it was still requesting funding for simultaneously developing its 12-man space station and the shuttle. Each project would have cost $5 billion in FY 1971-77 but sceptics in Congress regarded them as a precommitment to a $50-100 billion manned mission to Mars. The Nixon Administration was also skeptical since the space program would have to compete with social programs and the Vietnam War effort for funds.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050313201532/www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld029.htm

 

[Triton]

North American and General Dynamics Phase B Shuttle (1970)

Text by Marcus Lindroos from the late Space pages.

GD booster / NAR orbiter orbiter separation at 70km altitude.The orbiter version depicted here is the elegant “NAR-134-B” delta wing high-crossrange version. It would have weighed 98,762kg empty and a 9,072kg payload could be accomodated. For some reason, the Phase B contract only called for a 6,804-kg payload capability to a 500-km 55 de.g orbit. This was similar to Max Faget’s “DC-3” specifications, although the US Air Force wanted much more. But the system had considerable growth potential since the orbiter/booster landing jets might be removed on some missions. NASA still had not decided if the shuttle would make powered or unpowered glide landings, but there was considerable evidence that dead-stick glide landings were feasible although the jet engines were retained for now.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050313201532/www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld029.htm

 

[Jemiba]

From Aviation Week 9-17 1963, the Astrorocket concept :

 

[Triton]

First image is a model of the McDonnell Douglas Martin Marietta space shuttle (1970-71) in 1:96 scale on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21392874@N00/3673223829/

Second image is a model of the McDonnell Douglas Martin Marietta space shuttle (1970-71) in1:80 scale on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21392874@N00/3674033746/in/photostream/

Third image is a model of the McDonnell Douglas Martin Marietta space shuttle, scale unknown, in the hands of a private collector.
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000361.html

Fourth image is a model of the McDonnell Douglas/Martin Marietta High Cross Range Orbiter, scale unknown (note golf ball for size), in the hands of a private collector.
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000361.html

Fifth image is a High Cross Range Orbiter model (photo from McDonnell Douglas, unknown scale, date or location)
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000361.html

Sixth image is of High Cross Range Orbiter models, scale unknown, in the hands of a private collector.
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000361.html

 

[Triton]

First image is a model of the Grumman/Boeing Phase C Orbiter.

Remaining images are of a model of the Grumman Phase C orbiter and booster?
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000361.html

 

[Triton]

Artwork of Lockheed LS-200 "Starclipper" Phase A shuttle from 1975 Russian edition of Frontiers of Space by Philip Bono and Kenneth Gatland.
http://epizodsspace.airbase.ru/bibl/bono/persp/01.html

 

[Triton]

Space shuttle concept models from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brokenarc/3350715144/

Model, Space Shuttle, Grumman/Boeing F-1 Expendable Booster Concept, 1 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this Grumman concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured a reusable orbiter and disposable external fuel tank attached to a recoverable booster similar to the Saturn V launch vehicle used to send astronauts to the Moon. After the booster burned out and was jettisoned, the orbiter's engines, fed from the attached disposable tank, would ignite for final ascent into orbit. The booster would land in the ocean and be retrieved; the orbiter would return from space to a runway landing. This concept sought to reduce cost by making use of proven, existing booster technology rather than developing a new launch vehicle for the orbiter. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

Model, Space Shuttle, Grumman/Boeing F-1 Expendable Booster Concept, 1 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum collection.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, Grumman 2-Stage SRB Parallel Burn Concept, 1:192 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured two solid rocket boosters (used as a 1st stage) and a delta-wing fly-back orbiter with engines fed by an external liquid propellant tank (used for both stages of ascent). Both the boosters and external tank would be jettisoned when their propellants were expended, but the boosters would be recovered and reused. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design, which was similar to this concept.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, Lockheed Fully Reusable Concept, 1:200 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this Lockheed concept for a two-stage, fully reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. Unlike similar designs that perched the orbiter on top of a booster vehicle, this one attached the orbiter underneath. The booster would lift the orbiter to a set altitude, then separate and depart as the orbiter ignited its engines to continue its ascent into space. Both piloted vehicles would return to land. The upswept wings on these vehicles also differed from other design concepts. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

Marcus Lindroos identifies this concept as the Boeing/Lockheed Phase B delta-wing shuttle concept (1970).
http://web.archive.org/web/20050313201406/www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld028.htm

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, General Dynamics / Convair FR-4 2-Stage Triamese Concept from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this General Dynamics/Convair concept for a fully reusable space transportation system early in the Shuttle research effort of 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured three piloted fly-back vehicles, an orbiter sandwiched between two boosters, all using liquid propellants. All would ignite together for lift-off, and the boosters would detach and fly to land when their fuel was consumed while the orbiter continued on to space. All three vehicles had snap-out wings and jet engines for return flight. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

Marcus Lindroos states that the General Dynamics / Convair FR-4 2-Stage Triamese Concept is from 1968.
http://web.archive.org/web/20050310051817/www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld020.htm

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, Delta-Wing High Cross-Range Orbiter Concept from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA used this Space Shuttle orbiter concept model in wind tunnel tests to learn about the flight characteristics of the vehicle's shape. Although the orbiter would spend most of its time in space, its aerodynamic shape would affect its passage through the atmosphere during launch and descent. This model has wide delta wings for greater cross-range maneuverability during final descent; that is, without engine power, it could glide across a wider swath of land to reach the runway than other wing shapes. However, delta wings meant a heavier orbiter and more surface heating during reentry. NASA transferred a variety of wind tunnel and concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, Martin Marietta Spacemaster Two-Stage Concept, 1:96 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this Martin Marietta concept for a fully reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. It featured two piloted fly-back vehicles - a twin-fuselage booster craft and a delta-wing orbiter - in a two-stage configuration. The liquid-propellant booster would carry the orbiter to a set altitude, then detach and be piloted back to land. After separation the orbiter would ignite its own engines to reach orbit. Both vehicles had retractable air-breathing jet engines for powered airplane-like flight during descent to landing. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

NOTE: It appears that the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum only has a model of the orbiter from the Martin Marietta "Spacemaster" concept. A twin-body booster would have been attached to the orbiter.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050310052527/www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld027.htm

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, McDonnell Douglas / Martin Marietta Reusable Concept, 1:80 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this McDonnell Douglas/Martin Marietta concept for a fully reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured two piloted fly-back vehicles, a booster and an orbiter, both using liquid propellant. The booster would carry the orbiter to a set altitude, then detach to return to base. After separation, the orbiter's engines would ignite for final ascent into orbit. This concept had a second configuration for heavy payloads (such as large space station components) that did not need an astronaut crew; the booster, augmented by six solid rocket boosters, would launch a large disposable cargo carrier. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, McDonnell Douglas / Martin Marietta Reusable Concept, 1:96 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this McDonnell Douglas/Martin Marietta concept for a fully reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured two piloted fly-back vehicles, a swept-wing booster and a delta-wing orbiter, both with large internal liquid propellant tanks visible in the cutaway. The 12-engine rocketplane would lift the attached orbiter to a set altitude, then detach to fly home as the orbiter ignited to complete its ascent into space. The orbiter's delta wings and retractable jet engines would improve maneuverability for the return flight to landing. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle,Grumman/Boeing G-3 2-Stage Fully-Reusable Concept, 1:192 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site

NASA studied this Grumman concept for a fully reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. It featured two piloted fly-back vehicles - a booster and a large orbiter - both having retractable jet engines for powered descent to landing. All propellants were carried inside each vehicle. The booster had straight wings, but the orbiter had large delta wings for better maneuverability. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Stargazer]

Brilliant! I remember seeing these as a kid in various illustrations, and was so sure then that the year 2000 would be full of space travels and amazing aircraft...
30 years down the line, the outlook is definitely dull... Burt Rutan excepted of course, as he provides BOTH space travel AND amazing aircraft for younger generations to dream...

As for the Boeing/Lockheed Phase B delta-wing shuttle concept, is the Lockheed shuttle design related in some way to their L-301 (X-24C) proposal? There seems to be some likeness in configuration and general lines.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle,Grumman/Boeing 2-Stage F-1 Flyback Booster Concept, 1:192 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this Grumman/Boeing concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured two piloted fly-back vehicles, a booster and an orbiter, both using liquid propellant. The orbiter was mounted on a large external tank above the booster. Powered by five F-1 engines, the booster would carry the orbiter to a set altitude, then detach to return to base. After separation, the orbiter's engines, fed from the tank, would ignite for final ascent into orbit. Moving all the orbiter's propellants into a disposable external tank made the orbiter smaller and lighter-weight. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle,Grumman 2-Stage LRB Parallel Burn Concept, 1:192 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this Grumman Aerospace concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured a piloted fly-back orbiter mounted on a disposable tank attached to two recoverable liquid propellant boosters. The boosters and the orbiter's engines would ignite together for liftoff. When the boosters burned all their propellant, they would be jettisoned and fall to the ocean for recovery, while the orbiter's engines, still fed from the tank, powered the vehicle into orbit. In the final analysis, solid rocket boosters were chosen over liquid rocket boosters in a design quite similar to this one. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, Swing Engine Concept, 1:100 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

This concept model depicts an alternative arrangement of the space shuttle's main engines. The three engines arranged in a row would be attached to the external fuel tank while firing and then be raised and stowed in the aft section of the orbiter after ascent was completed. This arrangement put the main engines close to the same level as the solid rocket boosters on each side and kept propellants and their plumbing out of the orbiter. In the final design the three main engines were clustered in a triangle in the aft end of the orbiter, and propellants were routed into the orbiter to feed the engines. NASA transferred various concept models to the Museum after settling on the final space shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, Straight-Wing Low Cross-Range Orbiter Concept from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA used this Space Shuttle orbiter concept model in wind tunnel tests to learn about the flight characteristics of the vehicle's shape. Although the orbiter would spend most of its time in space, its aerodynamic shape would affect its passage through the atmosphere during launch and descent. This straight wing model would have less cross-range maneuverability during final descent; that is, without engine power during the downward glide, it would have to complete its descent very close to a runway. However, straight wings meant a lighter-weight orbiter and less surface heating during reentry. NASA transferred a variety of wind tunnel and concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, North American Rockwell Partially Reusable Concept, 1:200 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

This concept for a partially reusable space transportation system emerged near the end of the Shuttle research effort in 1971-1972. It featured a piloted orbiter with a disposable external fuel tank attached to two liquid propellant booster rockets. In this stage-and-a-half system all engines (four per booster and four on the orbiter) would ignite for lift-off. After the boosters burned out and were jettisoned, the orbiter, fed from the disposable tank, would continue into orbit. The final Shuttle concept was quite similar to this but had two reusable solid-propellant boosters and only three orbiter engines. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, North American Rockwell Fully Reusable Concept, 1:100 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this North American Rockwell original concept for a fully reusable space transportation system early in the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured two fly-back, straight-wing vehicles, a booster and an orbiter, both using liquid propellants stored internally. The large rocketplane would boost the orbiter to a set altitude, where the orbiter would detach and ignite its engines for the ascent into space. The winged booster was powered by multiple rocket engines for ascent plus retractable jet engines for returning and landing like an airplane. The orbiter, sized for two pilots and ten passengers on roundtrip flights to space, also had jet engines for descent to landing. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, North American Rockwell Expendable Booster Concept,1:200 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured an orbiter and disposable external fuel tank attached to a disposable first-stage similar to the Saturn V booster previously used to launch astronauts to the Moon. After the booster burned out and was jettisoned, the orbiter's engines, fed from the attached disposable tank, would ignite for final ascent into orbit. This concept sought to reduce cost by making use of proven, existing booster technology rather than developing a new launch vehicle for the orbiter. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, North American Rockwell 2-Stage Concept, 1:200 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this North American Rockwell concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured two piloted fly-back vehicles, a booster and an orbiter, both using liquid propellant. The orbiter was mounted on a large external tank above the booster. Powered by five F-1 engines, the booster would carry the orbiter to a set altitude, then detach to return to base. After separation, the orbiter's engines, fed from the tank, would ignite for final ascent into orbit. Moving all the orbiter's propellants into a disposable external tank made the orbiter smaller and lighter-weight. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, North American Rockwell - Convair Fully Reusable Concept from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this North American Rockwell concept for a two-stage, fully reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. It featured two piloted fly-back vehicles--a large booster and a smaller orbiter, both with delta wings and pop-up jet engines for powered return to landing. The booster would lift the orbiter to a set altitude, then separate and depart as the orbiter ignited its engines to continue ascent into space. All liquid propellants were carried inside each vehicle. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 

[Triton]

Model,Space Shuttle,Grumman/Boeing H-33 2-Stage Partially-Reusable Concept,1:192 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this Grumman concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. It featured two piloted fly-back vehicles - a large booster and a small orbiter - both with retractable jet engines for powered descent to landing. This design reduced the orbiter's weight and size by putting its propellants into disposable external fuel tanks that could be jettisoned after ascent. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

Grumman/Boeing H-33 "Phase B" Shuttle (1971) from Marcus Lindroos' late Space pages:
http://web.archive.org/web/20050313201421/www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld033.htm

 

[Triton]

Model, Space Shuttle, Lockheed Starclipper LS200-8 Stage-and-a-Half Concept,1:96 from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collections Database web site:

NASA studied this Lockheed Martin concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1971. It featured a delta-wing orbiter vehicle flanked by two large external fuel tanks. It was called a stage-and-a-half vehicle because the orbiter would launch itself without a booster and fly all the way to orbit using its own rocket engines fed by the external fuel tanks (the half-stage), which would be jettisoned when empty. The reusable orbiter had retractable wings and air-breathing jet engines that deployed after reentry, enabling it to fly like an airplane to landing. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.