US Space Shuttle Projects

[Temistocle]

Hi, there is an interesting paper from the AIAA 2004 conference:

Space Shuttle Variations and Derivatives That Never Happened - An Historical Review

I have the pdf, but I am not sure I can post it here for copyright issues...

 

[Dynoman]

Temistocle, here is a link to the same paper.

[PDF] Shuttle Variations and Derivatives That Never Happened - An Historical Review | Semantic Scholar

While the Space Shuttle was under detailed development and fabrication, we at the former Rockwell International looked at ways that the Shuttle system could be further developed by using the system elements in new ways. These involved "slicing and dicing" the Shuttle system elements in new ways...

pdfs.semanticscholar.org

 

[gtg947h]

Hi, there is an interesting paper from the AIAA 2004 conference:

Space Shuttle Variations and Derivatives That Never Happened - An Historical Review

I have the pdf, but I am not sure I can post it here for copyright issues...

That was an interesting presentation, if I remember correctly (I attended the conference and saw that one; we also presented and Bob Crippen came to watch )

 

[Archibald]

the stretched orbiter is so cute !

 

[hesham]

From L+K 18/1992,

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

 

[martinbayer]

hesham,

it's a notional Mars rocketplane design based on an ISRU concept called Nuclear rocket using Indigenous Martian Fuel (NIMF) from a 1980's Martin Marietta study by Robert Zubrin, see the paper at https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwipk7blhMrnAhXkJzQIHZbpAUIQFjACegQIAhAB&url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19910012833.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0DL6VQfwhla8WCq6MQNU5g.

Martin

 

[Orionblamblam]

From L+K 18/1992,

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

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.

 

[Grey Havoc]

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 th…

elpoderdelasgalaxias.wordpress.com

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

EDIT: http://www.astronautix.com/s/shuttler134g.html

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1968.

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1968.

 

[Grey Havoc]

(h/t The Artist & Michel Van)

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1969 & 1970.

 

[hesham]

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).

 

[FighterJock]

From Aviation magazine 1963.

Hesham, do you know if there is a translated version of the article somewhere on the web? Some of us cannot read French all that well.

 

[Grey Havoc]

On This Day in Space: Oct. 6, 1992: US & Russia sign human spaceflight agreement

On Oct. 6, 1992, the United States and Russia signed an agreement to share astronauts and cosmonauts. See how it happened in our "On This Day In Space" series!

www.space.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Strange to think that the first prototype shuttle EVA suit was completed in 1974 (I had thought it was a little later, around 1977).

 

[Grey Havoc]

 

[Boxman]

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

 

[Dynoman]

Reminds me of the Blackhorse concept vehicle. However, I don't see an AAR port.

 

[starviking]

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?

 

[In_A_Dream]

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

Perhaps related to this?

 

[archipeppe]

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.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Had the same thought.

 

[FighterJock]

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

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?

 

[Grey Havoc]