Various US Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) Projects

[hesham]

Also;


http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1928.15.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1928.45.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1928.90.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1928.135.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1928.150.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1928.180.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1928.210.html

 

[Graham1973]

Sorry about the lack of specs on this one, but it's a cool picture dating from shortly after the final decision on which shuttle they were going to build.

 

[blackstar]

Sorry about the lack of specs on this one, but it's a cool picture dating from shortly after the final decision on which shuttle they were going to build.

Looks to me like it is depicting a tug pulling a payload away, with another payload in the forward bay. They never actually carried anything like that, and that doesn't seem like a good way to do it. Would you want a robotic craft approaching the shuttle under power? Probably better to have the shuttle do the approach.

 

[Matej]

Just found in one presentation. Kinda funny and "reality representative".

 

[Orionblamblam]

Just found in one presentation. Kinda funny and "reality representative".

Huh. What's the date on the presentation?

http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=1732

 

[Matej]

Wow, thats nice. It was in one of the first sixty presentations that appear, when you type "FESTIP filetypeDF" to the google. Not something I was looking for, so I did only printscreen.

 

[ikke666]

thanks for the respons ;D
loved the links to the nasa pdf's

 

[PlanesPictures]

from my work

 

[Graham1973]

Sorry about the lack of specs on this one, but it's a cool picture dating from shortly after the final decision on which shuttle they were going to build.

Looks to me like it is depicting a tug pulling a payload away, with another payload in the forward bay. They never actually carried anything like that, and that doesn't seem like a good way to do it. Would you want a robotic craft approaching the shuttle under power? Probably better to have the shuttle do the approach.

What it depicts is the last gasp of the Integrated Manned Program. The Space Tug (left in orbit by another shuttle) has just docked with & is pulling a Refuelling Module (RM) away from the shuttle. Once it has topped up it's fuel tanks the tug will release the RM and re-rendezvous with the shuttle to dock with the payload held in the shuttles RMS arms.

After placing the payload into transfer orbit the tug will re-dock with the RM & again top up it's tanks before returning the RM to the shuttle.

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720023151_1972023151.pdf

 

[blackstar]

What it depicts is the last gasp of the Integrated Manned Program. The Space Tug (left in orbit by another shuttle) has just docked with & is pulling a Refuelling Module (RM) away from the shuttle. Once it has topped up it's fuel tanks the tug will release the RM and re-rendezvous with the shuttle to dock with the payload held in the shuttles RMS arms.

After placing the payload into transfer orbit the tug will re-dock with the RM & again top up it's tanks before returning the RM to the shuttle.

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720023151_1972023151.pdf

That's interesting. But I note that the payload has its own upper stage (including rocket bell) so it should not require a boost to GEO. I think that is a mistake on the artist's part.

 

[Archibald]

Ultra Cool PDF B)
THX, Flateric ;D

Agreed. Mutated shuttles aplenty... I'm very fond of the stretched orbiter, much less stubby-looking than the orginal. Almost graceful !
By contrast the hammerhead ET is, eerhm, quite phallic looking. Kind of Austin Powers shuttle - groovy baby !

 

[Stargazer]

Apparently the name Triamese was not just for the FR-4 variant, but for the whole FR- series of designs. Also it appears that the FR- series were NASA-given, not Convair, designations:

There were at least five ways to build a fully-reusable shuttle, and NASA had appropriate designations and descriptions:

FR-1: the Triamese;
FR-2: a two-stage vehicle with the engines of both stages ignited at launch;
FR-3: a two-stage vehicle with engines in the orbiter ignited only upon staging (Faget's shuttle was an FR-3; so were the concepts of McDonnell Douglas);
FR-4: a variant of the Triamese with the core stage not of the same length as the twin booster stages;
FR-5: a concept designed to avoid a shift in its center of gravity as its propellant tanks would empty, thus easing problems of stability and control.

Source: The Space Shuttle Decision http://www.munseys.com/diskone/nasfour.htm

 

[Graham1973]

What it depicts is the last gasp of the Integrated Manned Program. The Space Tug (left in orbit by another shuttle) has just docked with & is pulling a Refuelling Module (RM) away from the shuttle. Once it has topped up it's fuel tanks the tug will release the RM and re-rendezvous with the shuttle to dock with the payload held in the shuttles RMS arms.

After placing the payload into transfer orbit the tug will re-dock with the RM & again top up it's tanks before returning the RM to the shuttle.

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720023151_1972023151.pdf

That's interesting. But I note that the payload has its own upper stage (including rocket bell) so it should not require a boost to GEO. I think that is a mistake on the artist's part.

Actually that upper stage is a solid fuel stage to circularize the orbit once it reaches GTO if I've read the report correctly.

 

[Stargazer]

from my work

Awesome, Jozef, as usual. I especially like the second picture. Well done!

 

[Triton]

Artist's impressions from San Diego Air & Space Museum Archive.

Source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691184139/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691184329/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691184367/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691184433/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691185227/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691185347/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691185391/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691185483/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691185529/sizes/o/in/photostream/

 

[Triton]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691185609/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6691185669/sizes/l/in/photostream/

 

[Graham1973]

Impressive, I've seen one of those pictures at the NTRS, but many are new to me.

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/what-shuttle-should-have-been-the-october-1977-flight-manifest/

Soon after President Richard Nixon gave his blessing to the Space Shuttle Program on 5 January 1972, NASA targeted its first orbital flight for 1977, then for March 1978. By early 1975, the date had slipped to March 1979. Funding shortfalls were to blame, as were the daunting technical challenges of developing the world’s first reusable orbital spaceship with 1970s technology. The schedule slip was actually worse than NASA let on: as early as 31 January 1975, an internal NASA document gave a “90% probability date” for the first Shuttle launch of December 1979.

In October 1977, Chester Lee, director of Space Transportation System (STS) Operations at NASA Headquarters, distributed the first edition of the STS Flight Assignment Baseline, a launch schedule and payload manifest for the first 16 operational Shuttle missions. The document was in keeping with NASA’s stated philosophy that reusable Shuttle Orbiters would fly on-time and often, like a fleet of cargo airplanes. The STS Utilization and Operations Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston had prepared the document, which was meant to be revised quarterly as new customers chose the Space Shuttle as their cheap and reliable ride to space.

 

[GeorgeA]

Well, the engine kept blowing up, taking its test stand with it on several occasions. That tended to play havoc with the PERT charts.

 

[bercr]

Plenty of Hi-Res material on the SDASM Flickr photostream added May 4 2012 here
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Space%20Shuttle%20program%20San%20Diego%20Museum#page=0

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

SRB-X diagram
http://www.geocities.jp/uchyuu_kaihatsu_shi/_gl_images_/srb-x_1.JPG

SRB-X artwork
http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?22243-No-joy-in-Mudville-(or-at-Kennedy-Space-Center)/page2&p=198317#post198317

 

[Grey Havoc]

Shuttle Enterprise this week:

[IMAGE CREDIT: BBC NEWS/Michael Nagle/Getty Images]
​

 

[RGClark]

from my work

Thanks for that PlanesPictures. Great art work.

Bob Clark

 

[Stargazer]

Some fantastic artwork at SDASM. Wasn't that a Grumman proposal?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/7142847781/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996760546/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996760322/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/7142847843/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/7142848027/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996760728/

 

[Michel Van]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996760322/
This is the North American Rockwell full reusable Shuttle around june 1971


i not sure if that is from Grumman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996760322/
it's part of illustration of "Space Shuttle: Briefing Scope" NASA HQ MH71-6484 8-10-71

 

[Antonio]

Michel, you posted twice the same link

 

[Stargazer]

I wasn't talking about the Shuttle, but more about the huge launch vehicle, which appears in all six illustrations.

 

[Michel Van]

I wasn't talking about the Shuttle, but more about the huge launch vehicle, which appears in all six illustrations.

ooh, dat is Shuttle first stage booster before they switch on Solid booster on 1973

 

[ender]

Hello

it should be the June 1971 Phase B proposal combination of General Dynamics B9U booster and North American NAR-161-B orbiter.

Best regards,
Carmine

 

[NUSNA_Moebius]

That looks like a Star Clipper variation.

Indeed. And I've always like the Starclipper basic configuration. Seemed workable and with a sizable portion of fuel storage on the craft itself, the external tanks with a bit of redesign could be jettisoned at a practically low altitude for proper recovery. The external tanks could be given a more lifting body-ish design as well as a "platform" for the shuttle to "sit" on that also could work as a deflection lifting surface and protection for atmospheric reentry. I'm sure plenty would argue against the design, but it seemed quite sound to me.

 

[The Artist]

If you haven't already, you must check out Scott's Aerospace Projects Review, Volume 3, Number 2. Good Star Clipper material in that one.

 

[Grey Havoc]

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center initial proposal/study for refurbishing Skylab for Shuttle operations: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/nasa-marshalls-skylab-reuse-study-1977/

Skylab in Phase III configuration, c. 1984. Image: Junior Miranda
(Wired.com)​

 

[hesham]

Hello

it should be the June 1971 Phase B proposal combination of General Dynamics B9U booster and North American NAR-161-B orbiter.

Best regards,
Carmine

There was also a North American Model-140 and Model-160 orbiters.

 

[circle-5]

"Excess Personal Property": $1,980,674,785.00

 

[RGClark]

Some fantastic artwork at SDASM. Wasn't that a Grumman proposal?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/7142847781/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996760546/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996760322/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/7142847843/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/7142848027/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996760728/

Thanks for that very cool. Dig all those engines.

Bob Clark

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

10 Space Shuttles Which Never Flew.

http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/10-shuttles-which-never-flew.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996808030/in/set-72157627981313215

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

The first stage carrier looks like an offshoot of the Boeing Boomerang. See here:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3752.msg29420.html#msg29420

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19542934

Bill Moggridge, a British industrial designer who created the original computer laptop shape, has died.

Mr Moggridge died from cancer at the age of 69.

His computer, the Grid Compass, was designed in 1979 and initially used by the American military. It retailed at $8,150 (£5,097) and was installed on board the space shuttle Discovery.

The magnesium-cased device was distinctive because the screen display folded down over the keyboard.

RIP

 

[Stargazer]

Not being a Space Shuttle specialist (and not a "space person", more generally) I do not know exactly what project was evaluated in this sub-scale model hanging from below a Sikorsky CH-54, but I'm sure someone will identify soonest...

MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON,, TEXAS - - MSC SPACE ORBITER SHUTTLECRAFT — The one-tenth size dynamically scaled experimental model of the proposed "MSC 12.5K Space Orbiter Shuttlecraft" is shown mounted under a U.S. Army CH-54 helicopter prior to a successful drop test at Fort Hood, Texas, on May 4, 1970, The initial drop test at Fort Hood and the continuing drop tests at
the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico are to demonstrate the test vehicle's transition from a high angle of attack reentry to a level cruise attitude, the stability of the vehicle in stalled conditions, and to obtain freeflight data to assist in aerodynamic analytical transition prediction techniques. The shuttle test vehicle is about 13 feet long, with a fuselage two feet in diameter, an eight-foot wing span; and it weighs about 600 pound. Construction of the test vehicle is of aluminum and fiberglass. Maximum drop altitudes will be 12„000 feet.

Source: Sikorsky promotional photo, for release on May 22, 1970