Wach Auf

1989: ‘Shuttle Evolution “Block II”’

(sorry for low resolution, I cannot find a higher-res version anywhere)

1989: A concept drawing for a never-realised next-generation Space Shuttle, capable of carrying 8 astronauts and possibly over 30 tonnes to low-Earth orbit. The most noteworthy feature is the detachable cockpit with engines which could serve as a launch escape-system or a lifeboat during an incident in-orbit. It was to use its lifting body, wings, and body flap to glide to a runway and presumably land on skids. The escape system would enable a crew's escape at any point during launch or orbital flight.

Comments and observations

The inclusion of this escape-system in the orbiter would necessitate a gap in the heatshield at the nose, one of the hottest parts of the vehicle during re-entry. That's obviously a big problem. Further, a pad-abort would seem to be very impractical. 3 seconds at 8 Gs would only send the capsule about 2 km high, probably not high enough to glide towards the nearest runway, especially with those stubby wings. Perhaps an emergency parachute system and a splashdown of the capsule would have been more sensible?

Other changes to the orbiter seem to be in the interest of improving gliding performance, such as two wing-tip vertical stabilisers instead of one tail-mounted one (to eliminate wing-tip vortices), shrinkage of the orbital manœuvring system pods by relocation of the OMS's propellant-tanks into the wings, and the addition of canards which would probably yield greater pitch-authority during landing.

The system also proposes replacement of the solid rocket boosters with liquid-hydrogen–fuelled boosters. These could provide a greater payload capacity, as well as greater control of thrust during ascent, and the possibility of an emergency engine shutdown, improving the crew's safety. The biggest and most obvious downside would be increased cost. The drawing doesn't specify whether the LFBs are intended to recover themselves by deploying parachutes, but what's certain is that saltwater generally damages delicate chemical rocket engines, so they probably couldn't just plop into the ocean like the real Shuttle's SRBs did.

FROM OUTER SPACE

[ julia soboleva ]

The first test flight of the Apollo Lunar Module in Earth orbit launched from Cape Kennedy launch complex 37B aboard Saturn IB SA-204R on January 22, 1968.

Here, we see LM-1 being loaded into the spacecraft adapter that would protect it during launch. The nose cone (at right, under a protective blue cover) would go on top.

The unmanned LM-1 flew without several systems (like landing gear) that it wouldn't need for the test and the windows in front were covered with aluminum plates. After testing of the descent and ascent stage engines, the two sections of LM-1 burned up in the atmosphere on re-entry.

Path of the Hermes spacecraft in “The Martian”.

Red dot - Mars

Blue dot - Earth

Moving white dot - Hermes

The spacecraft Rosetta made this incredible picture during a Mars flyby!

We love you, Neil.

NASA Astronaut Anna Fisher photographed by John Bryson for Life Magazine, May 1985.

biggest betrayal is when it’s supposed to thunderstorm and it doesn’t

ariane yeong