US 80s TNMTS/AMLS studies aka Shuttle II

[fightingirish]

NASA's Survivable Crew Compartment Space Shuttle
Engineers in Houston envisioned the Shuttle II as an evolution of the Space Shuttle, with the Evolved Shuttle at its core. This design would have replaced the Space Shuttle’s Solid Rocket Boosters with Liquid Replacement Boosters, while keeping the expendable External Tank and, with minor modifications, the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). The wing configuration would have been revamped, with winglets at the tips of modified delta wings replacing the vertical tail fin.
The most significant change was to the crew compartment, which was completely redesigned to detach and operate as a separate, independent piloted spacecraft in the event of a catastrophic failure. This feature, along with the new wing design, would have carried over to JSC’s Shuttle II.
However, NASA JSC did not specify when the transition from Space Shuttle to Evolved Shuttle would take place. Assuming the Shuttle II would have been operational by the early 21st century, the Evolved Shuttle might have flown in the 1990s—though that future never came to pass.[...]

Video:

View: https://youtu.be/zzzJ7ADcHh0?si=k8CdJA10xWgj-tyN

Link:

https://youtu.be/zzzJ7ADcHh0?si=k8CdJA10xWgj-tyN

 

[publiusr]

From the kerbal

https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/gyepg3/the_new_and_improved_jsc_space_shuttle_ii

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/gyepg3/the_new_and_improved_jsc_space_shuttle_ii/?rdt=42456

 

[publiusr]

Space Shuttle II design concepts illustrated by Mark Dowman of John Frassanito & Associates.

According to an e-mail message that Mark Dowman sent me:

More on the subject
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19910018890/downloads/19910018890.pdf

 

[Byeman]

More on the subject
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19910018890/downloads/19910018890.pdf

Now OBE 35 years later

 

[galopujacy_jez]

odd finds. The blue image is a frame from a NASA video titled "Low Thrust Propulsion"

 

[RanulfC]

odd finds. The blue image is a frame from a NASA video titled "Low Thrust Propulsion"

Because it's a more laid back Shuttle II orbiter maybe?

Randy

 

[Маска]

Shuttle with winglets.

 

[Маска]

+

 

[galopujacy_jez]

more buried in the NARA catalog

 

[galopujacy_jez]

and more. some of these are excellent

 

[Lithos Aves]

and more. some of these are excellent

TWO CHRISTMASES!? My hard drive can't take much more of this...

I really love these old oil paintings, it's a shame they don't make them much anymore. I know the CGI renders are probably much cheaper and are more accurate to the shape and scale, but the paintings really give them a texture and character that make them feel like technological marvels of the future.