Missiles and Rockets, Jan 26, 1959
Image credit: ARMA
Image source: Internet Archive
Category: Interplanetary Spacecraft
From NASA-CR-67367
Orion Vehicles 2/2
Lunar Ferry Vehicles
Fig. 3.13 — Exploration vehicle configuration for Jupiter moon landing mission, 20-m propulsion module
Fig. 3.15 — Various payload configurations on basic 20-m propulsion module (with departure weights for given missions)
Fig. 3.16 — Earth-orbit-to-lunar-orbit ferry vehicle
Fig. 3.18 — Lunar-ferry-vehicle command module
Fig. 3.19 — Reference-design passenger module
Fig. 3.20 — Earth-orbit-to-lunar-surface ferry vehicle
Fig. 3.21 — Lunar passenger ferry
Fig. 3.22 — Lunar cargo shuttle
Fig. 3.23 — Solid-propellant-boosted earth-launched lunar logistic vehicles
Lunar Logistics Vehicles
Fig. 3.24 — S-IC boosted earth launched lunar logistics vehicle
Fig. 3.15 — Orbit launched lunar logistics vehicle
From:
Nuclear Pulse Space Vehicle Study
Vol. III — Conceptual Vehicle Designs and Operational Systems (U)
Image credit: General Atomics
File Source: Cornell
Orion Vehicles 1/2
Personnel Accommodations
Fig. 3.2 — Factors that influence the location of the shielded powered flight station
Fig. 3.4 — Powered flight station-escape vehicle for 8-man exploration missions with 10-m configurations
Fig. 3.5 — Powered flight station-escape vehicle for 20-man exploration missions with 20-m configurations
Fig 3.6 — Exploration-mission personnel accommodations for an 8-man complement
Fig 3.7 — Exploration-mission personnel accommodations for a 20-man complement
Fig 3.8 — General arrangement of payload spine and magazine payload support columns
Planetary Exploration Vehicles
Fig. 3.11 — Exploration vehicle for Mars orbital capture mission using 10-m propulsion module
Fig. 3.12 — Various payload configurations on basic 10-m propulsion module (with departure weights for 72, 850 fps Mars mission)
From:
Nuclear Pulse Space Vehicle Study
Vol. III — Conceptual Vehicle Designs and Operational Systems (U)
Image credit: General Atomics
File Source: Cornell
Figure 2.
Unmanned probe approaching Pluto. Probe is powered by thermionic radioisotope power generator. The laser beams for surface illumination, with optical sensors slaved to the beams. Other equipment comprises radiation counters as well as field, plasma and particle sensors.
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers
Image source: NASM
Figure 6.
Figure 7.
Earth-moon based planetary space port in 1988. Spacecraft are nuclear propelled interplanetary vehicles, launched by solid propellant lift-off rockets side-mounted around center section which, like the cylinders at the spacecraft’s center section, contain nuclear pulse units. In background a large antenna, belonging to the lunar deep space network is visible.
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers
Image source: NASM
0025-bx094-fd001_020
Solar Transportation
I find writing excruciating, which is why I usually let the Astronautix guy or Winchell Chung do the talking. Neither were available this morning, so context for the next couple of posts is by yours truly. Apologies in advance.
Solar Transportation was a presentation given by Krafft Ehrikke at the American Astronautical Society in 1966. In essence, the lecture describes how our solar system might be navigated in the year 2000. As reprinted in the book by Marsha Freeman, it’s a surprisingly enjoyable read.
The summary includes a wish list of propulsion systems to be developed.
Late 70s and most of the 80s
- Solid core nuclear reactors, especially NERVA
Late 80s and 90s
- Nuclear pulse (NP) (non-steady nuclear fission and fusion drive)
- Controlled thermonuclear reactor (CTR) (steady nuclear fusion drive) or, if neither one of these developments is undertaken,
- Nuclear-electrostatic drive.
Ehrikke then presents a timetable, representing a “sensible and likely” evolution of manned helionautical missions.
1970s
- An orbital operations capability would be developed, facilitating cislunar and heliocentric excursion missions.
1980s
- In 1982, a 69 day Mars capture mission launches. The crew conducts intensive reconnaissance both from orbit, and using probes – including landers and returners – but no manned surface excursions are planned. A mission launched between 1984 is one-way, involving a 529 day stay on Mars. A follow-on mission in 1985 (via Venus) retrieves the crew.
- By the end of the ’80s, a capability is established for a Venus landing. A solar physics laboratory is erected on Mercury. These missions are based on the NP and CTR drives.
I990s
- Regular transfers begin between Earth and Mars.
- Exploration of Jupiter and Saturn and their moons.
- Manned missions to asteroids and comets.
- Beginning of utilization of the raw material resources of asteroids and planets of the inner solar system.
Solar Transportation then goes back the future and the fall of the year 2000, looking back at the events that led to the interplanetary travel we enjoy at the dawn of the new millennium. The interplanetary corridors between Mercury and Saturn are alive with manned vehicles. Unmanned probes have reached the Sun. Food is grown on Mars and it is expected that exports to Earth will begin within fifty years. An orbital supply and rescue station is established at Venus, acting as a helionautical coast guard station. But like I said already, go and read it yourself.
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers
Image source: NASM
numbers station 