concept art – Page 56

X-20 by Warren McCallister

FOR RELEASE AT 9:00 A.M., PDT, SEPTEMBER 22, 1960

DYNA SOAR GLIDER RE-ENTERING EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE

This is a Boeing artist’s impression of how the Dyna Soar manned space glider will look when it re-enters the earth’s atmosphere after a flight into space. Leading edges of the craft will glow from the heat created by the friction of the vehicle passing into the atmosphere. Dyna Soar will be boosted into space by a modified Titan intercontinental ballistic missile. After being separated from its booster, the glider will be left in a piloted, near orbital flight. Its pilot later could glide to a conventional landing at an Air Force base. The Boeing Company, under supervision of the Air Force, is prime contractor for the system and the glider. The Martin Company is prime contractor for the Titan booster.

— Boeing Airplane Company Photo

FROM:

News Bureau
Boeing Airplane Company
Seattle 24, Washington

Image credit: Boeing
Image source: Numbers Station

Design 619

Image credit: Grumman
Image source: Numbers Station

Solar-powered Ship

This glorious painting by John Sentovic depicts a solar-powered ship in lunar orbit, as envisioned by Krafft A. Ehricke.

Image credit: Convair
Image source: SDASM Archives

Design 518

Image credit: Grumman
File source: NASA NTRS

NAR Art Department

Image credit: North American Rockwell
Image source: Numbers Station

Shuttle Development

Image credit: North American Rockwell
Image source: Numbers Station

NAR Station & Shuttle

X-20 Three-View

Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar abandoned by the US Air Force in 1963 before flight trials could begin. Although ultimately intended for launching by Titan 3C, this one-man vehicle followed principles established by the Austrian engineer Dr Eugen Stänger a quarter of a century before. The project played an important part in developing aerodynamic and structural techniques for new-generation space-craft capable of maneuvering after re-entry from orbit. Length 35 ft (10.7m.) wingspan 20 ft (6.09m.); height (with wire-brush landing skis retracted) 8 ft (2.4m.).

Frontiers of Space
Philip Bono & Kenneth Gatland
Macmillan, 1969

Image credit: Macmillan
Image source: Numbers Station