SLOMAR

[Barrington Bond]

Which I think stands for Space Logistics Maintenance And Rescue - anyone know any more?

 

[Barrington Bond]

Some snippet mentions of SLOMAR.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/882/1

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=AD682208&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

http://www.thespaceshow.com/detail.asp?q=1043

 

[Michel Van]

here SLOMAR concept from General Dynamic

http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=2921

SLOMAR = Space Logistics, Maintenance and Repair,
a study program begun by the USAF in 1959. Funds were not actually made available until June of 1960, with the bulk of the work carried out over the following year. The basic objectives of the SLOMAR study were to estimate future military space needs in terms of support for manned space stations and produce preliminary designs of vehicles to fulfill that mission.

Strange the Spacereview text don't mention LUNEX
Northrop made also Study for a Lunar Base with Observatory
around beginn 1960's so thats part of SR-183 the Lunar Observatory Study ?

 

[Stargazer2006]

Under program #7069, Bell also studied a SLOMAR vehicle.
Under program #7052, Bell studied a "Manned Space Capsule study" called Remora.
Under program #7123 (January 1961), Bell studied a "Self-Maneuvering Unit for Orbital Maintenance Workers."
Under program #7142 (July 1961), Bell made a "Proposal for the Study of Space Maintenance Techniques."
Under program #7163, Bell redefined the Remora as a "One man Orbiter Worker Capsule".

About the Remora:

The Remora System proposed by the Bell Aerosystems Company is representative of this vehicle class, and in addition includes more available system data as a consequence, this vehicle was the basic system incorporated into the contract. The capsule is approximately six feet long, four feet in diameter and has an empty weight of 507 pounds. It has a four-hour mission capability with 100 percent reserve in life support and propellant supplies. A double-wall structural concept employing an inner magnesium shell, insulation core, and an aluminum alloy laminate outer wall is present. A meteorite bumper shield is suggested as a protective device for the worker and critical items of equipment. In order to accomplish the tasks allocated to this shuttle, provisions are incorporated for remote manipulators, pressurized gauntlets and grappler arms. The capsule life support system provides 100 percent oxygen at 5 psia with supplies sufficient for the four hour mission plus 100 percent backup. Safety features include provision for acceptance of a worker in a full pressure suit with its own life support system which would be activated upon failure of the capsule system. A thermal control system is also provided which maintains capsule temperature at 70 0F. Other significant features include a reaction control and propulsion system, a control and stabilization system, a fuel cellpower supply, two-way communications, and status information display panel.

This text and several "Space Maintenance Capsules" from various companies (attached image) are taken from the following document dated May 1963:

TECHNICAL DOCUMENTARY REPORT NO. ASD-TDR-63-931:
STUDY OF SPACE MAINTENANCE TECHNIQUES

 

[The Artist]

With the exception of the Northrop concept (Which is from Aviation Week), these are from the book America's Mightiest Missile by LLoyd Mallan. While this book does not use the SLOMAR designation, a few of the illustrations are the same.

According to this book - but it seems to have been geared toward middle-school age kids so take from this what you will - the capsule in the third picture posted above by Barrington Bond was a Martin concept for the Apollo capsule.

 

[Michel Van]

THX for the pictures guys ;D

the Bell "Space Maintenance Capsules"
i saw years ago in German space literature this
but is label as possibly SOVJET SPACECRAFT !

Source
Raumfahrt Lexikon
by Bruno Stanek, 1983, page 172

Picture
Das Neue Universum nr°84
from 1967, page 31

 

[Stargazer2006]

Cool! This is definitely a picture of the Bell REMORA (not Remova as the legend implies, not Remona as YOUR filename says!).

 

[Michel Van]

Cool! This is definitely a picture of the Bell REMORA (not Remova as the legend implies, not Remona as YOUR filename says!).

upps typing error again :
that Remova name could explane why it was labeled erroneous as Soviet hardware...

 

[OM]

...Ah, the days when cockpit internal designs still reflected 50's sensibilities instead of Apollo canvas-on-wireframe seating. Captain Video would have felt right at home.

 

[Skybolt]

The book was right: that is one of the proposed Martin configuration for Apollo re-entry vehicle.

 

[The Artist]

The book was right: that is one of the proposed Martin configuration for Apollo re-entry vehicle.

Thanks.

 

[Skybolt]

Sorry for misreading the documents I have, here is the corrected post:

BTW, SLOMAR was SR-17527 79814 and was originally part of the USAF "Space Development Planning Study that comprised 10 studies covering: satellite interception, global surveillance, SLOMAR, strategic orbital systems (bombardment satellites), lunar operations , recoverable orbital launch systems, MTSS, and more.

SLOMAR RFP was issued in early 1960. Ten contractors responded but only Lockheed, Martin, GD/Astro, Douglas, Norair apparently received funding. From the drawings I have, the Martin SLOMAR submission for a crew orbital logistics vehicle wasn't the one depicted above. Here they are.

 

[nugo]

Hi All!

SLOMAR competition:

1) Douglas Model 2???
2) GD/Convair Astronautics Model ?
3) General Electric Model ?
4) Lockheed Model CL-4?? or 5?? or LS-?
5) Martin Model 38? or 39? or 4??
6) McDonnell Model 15?
7) North American Model ESO-? or ?
8) Northrop Model 2??
9) ? ?
10) ? ?
11) ? ?
12) ? ?

 

[Stargazer2006]

... and the Bell Aerospace 7069 !

 

[Skybolt]

See my modified reply.

 

[Skybolt]

Much better drawing of the Lockheed SLOMAR submission.
Forgot to mention: SLOMAR studies were structured on two phases, like all the other USAF Space Studies. Phase I prescribed full operations before and up-to 1978. Phase II was for post-1978 operations. Lockheed CL-498 was a Phase I SLOMAR vehicle an like other submission launched by an expendable or only partially reusable booster. At least Lockheed Phase II was an aerospaceplane-type vehicle.

 

[Skybolt]

Lockheed SLOMAR Phase II vehicles were very probably TDN CL-510.

 

[The Artist]

Did Goodyear play any part in this with their inflatable concepts?

 

[Skybolt]

Apparently, no. The synthesis report on the final evaluation of the SLOMAR vehicles only cites as FUNDED contractors the five I mentioned in a previous reply. It is known that Goodyear did a report for NASA on an inflatable space station concept. I have the report somewhere. Tha booster was to be a Titan.
BTW, SLOMAR was linked to another USAF Space Development study, MTSS, that asked for a military space station. It is the father of MOL.

 

[Skybolt]

Finished reading the summary evaluation report of SLOMAR. First a word of caution: not all things known under the sobriquet "SLOMAR" were actually studied in the strict SLOMAR studies. In particular, space stations and orbital repair vehicles were not part of SLOMAR. Space Stations were part of MTSS (SR-17527). The contractors which were awarded SLOMAR studies did sometimes conceptualize the space systems they intended to support, but only in very sketchy ways (as far as the report I have says).
Amounts provided were rather low, even accounting for the inflation: total was 600.000 dollars, covering five contractors' studies spanning a year, from June 1960 to June 1961. The RFP actually is from November 1959.
Basic objectives of SLOMAR were: estimate the requirements of future space military systems for logistical support; prepare preliminary designs of system to provide that support; examine the problems involved. General reference included: use of existing hardware and technologies whenever possible; reduction of development times and costs. Specs were: operational period 1965-75; 30.000 lbs payload capability (means both the weight of the vehicle and its actual payload); types of systems to be supported were: recon and surveillance; orbital bombing; command and control; satellite defense; communication; space station; types of support to be examined: replacement; Earth-based; space-based. After a few months, it was apparent that the provided funding was insufficient for all the contractors to study all the areas. So contractors chose to emphasize some aspect, and this was sanctioned with approval during the mid-term briefings occurring in February 1961.
At the end of the studies, the evaluation committee concluded that all contractors agreed of the following:
1) it was possible to have an operational system in use by 1968 for support to orbits up to 500 nm. 2) more than one satellite at a time had to be supported during a mission to make the system cost-effective (except for the space station); 3) guidance of the vehicle was to be self contained (i.e. no remote control by Earth stations); 4) total capacity of the vehicles, crew plus passenger, was to be six.
Next post: summary table of results in seven key areas.

 

[Michel Van]

is this a model of the Lockheed SLOMAR submission?

found here
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=722.msg95249#msg95249

 

[Skybolt]

Yep.

 

[nugo]

Hi All!

...AKA Lockheed/Hughes SLOMAR.

 

[Orionblamblam]

Cool! This is definitely a picture of the Bell REMORA

More on the Bell Remora in the latest issue of Aerospace Projects Review: http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=6266

 

[Justo Miranda]

is this a model of the Lockheed SLOMAR submission?

found here
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=722.msg95249#msg95249

From "The Dream Machines" by Ron Miller

 

[Barrington Bond]

Would Barnes Wallis have reason to complain - it looks very Swallow like

 

[Barrington Bond]

A better version from a French book I can't recall...

 

[Barrington Bond]

No idea if this is part of SLOMAR studies but a good a place as any to put it...possibly from 1964.

 

[circle-5]

Northrop-Norair factory display model of the N-256 SLOMAR proposal, as it survives today.

 

[Michel Van]

Northrop-Norair factory display model of the N-256 SLOMAR proposal, as it survives today.

Thank you for those Picture, because all i have about Northrop proposal is this:

 

[circle-5]

This is the Northrop/Norair SLOMAR factory model shown in the AW&ST clipping (Reply #4, above). Note various, mission-specific modules.

 

[Michel Van]

interesting
that two different variants on concept
but in booth a bifid cockpit, is seal off from cargo bay.
the pilots have to make a EVA if they have to leave the cockpit in orbit ?
or is that just way the model is build ?

 

[carmelo]

This is the Northrop/Norair SLOMAR factory model shown in the AW&ST clipping (Reply #4, above). Note various, mission-specific modules.

But this is a Dyna Soar phase 2?

 

[OM]

...Egads! Can you imagine waking up on Christnukkah Morning to find that beauty giftwrapped under the tree? ;D B)

 

[Jemiba]

Hughes Lockheed Satellite Rendezvous Vehicle

Found in Aviation Week October 1960, an article about a joint development of Hughes and Lockheed
for a manned space vehicle, able to transport a pilot and payload of 1000 lb to a height of 1000 miles
above earth after launched by a three stage ICBM booster, and returning to earth in winged configuration.
Special raison d'être was the ability to rendezvous with satellites, either friendly or "unfriendly" ones, the
title suggests, that it was intended especially as an anti-satellite system.

 

[hesham]

Re: Hughes Lockheed Satellite Rendezvous Vehicle

Great find my dear Jemiba.

 

[Michel Van]

Re: Hughes Lockheed Satellite Rendezvous Vehicle


is this a model of Satellite Rendezvous Vehicle

found here
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=722.msg95249#msg95249

found here
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4190.15.html

 

[Jemiba]

Re: Hughes Lockheed Satellite Rendezvous Vehicle

Ah, ok, sorry ! Was described under the heading "Anti Satellite Techniques Investigated"
and I got no hits by this search.
The CL-498 seems to be a larger/later iteration
(topics merged)

 

[carmelo]

This is the Northrop/Norair SLOMAR factory model shown in the AW&ST clipping (Reply #4, above). Note various, mission-specific modules.

Pilots can transfer in the mission module means an hatch between the seats in Gemini-B way?

 

[RAP]

Some Martin info on SLOMAR.