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74-SL-7200-244A

Skylab at Astronautix

Image credit: NASA

Image source: NASA Marshall

Skylab

Skylab at Astronautix

Image credit: NASA

Image source: NASA Marshall

Experimental Manned Space Station

Atlas Space Station at Atomic Rockets

Image credit: Convair

Image source: SDASM Archives

Outpost

Atlas Space Station at Atomic Rockets

Image credit: Convair

Image source: SDASM Archives

Krafft Ehricke Pointing at Things

Atlas Space Station at Atomic Rockets

Image credit: Convair

Image source: SDASM Archives

LORL

Three-armed LORL is shown in this artist’s sketch. Center hub, which contains parking area for several space ferries, does not rotate and thus remains weightless. Under the parking area is a laboratory for study of weightlessness. The three arms rotate around the hub to create artificial gravity. Cutaway of one arm shows it to contain a series of rooms for other laboratory requirements and studies.

Orbiting Stations: Stopovers to Space Travel
Irwin Stambler
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1965

LORL at Astronautix

Image credit: North American Aviation

Image source: Numbers Station

LORL (Lockheed)

Three-armed LORL is shown in this artist’s sketch. Center hub, which contains parking area for several space ferries, does not rotate and thus remains weightless. Under the parking area is a laboratory for study of weightlessness. The three arms rotate around the hub to create artificial gravity. Cutaway of one arm shows it to contain a series of rooms for other laboratory requirements and studies.

Orbiting Stations: Stopovers to Space Travel
Irwin Stambler
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1965

LORL at Astronautix

Image credit: Lockheed

Image source: Numbers Station

MORL

  1. CONCEPT OF A MANNED ORBITING RESEARCH LABORATORY, which has been under research study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is illustrated in this artist’s rendering. The concept evolved from by the Douglas Missile & Space Administration under contract to the NASA Langley Research Center. Douglas engineers believe the concept could be operational within a five-year period. A Gemini-type ferry-craft approaches the orbiting laboratory, which is designed to remain in a 200 nautical-mile earth orbit for a period of a year or more.
  2. One concept of a Manned Orbiting Research Laboratory (MORL), which has been under research study for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, would occupy a cylinder 260 inches in diameter. Inside the cylinder, a spherical vessel might house living and work spaces and an on-board centrifuge for maintaining crew fitness. In this artist’s concept, evolved by Douglas Aircraft Company’s Missile & Space Systems Division under NASA contract, living quarters are shown on the upper left, a centrifuge in the center, and working area at the right. The Douglas concept is based on the Saturn IB launch vehicle.
  3. MANNED ORBITING RESEARCH LABORATORY (MORL) concept, which has been under research study by National Aeronautical and Space Administration, is pictured in a 200 nautical-mile earth orbit in this artist’s rendering. The concept evolved from studies made by Douglas Aircraft Company’s Missile & Space Division under contract to the NASA Langley Research Center. A Gemini-type ferry craft which might transport crew and supplies from Earth is docked in a hangar in the laboratory’s nose cone. Once rendezvous and docking are complete, the hangar can be sealed and pressurized and the astronauts can enter the MORL. Paddle-like devices attached to the orbiting laboratory are solar cell arrays to convert energy from the sun. They would be unfolded after MORL was in orbit.

Space World

November 1964, VOL. A-13

MORL at Astronautix

Image credit: Douglas

Image source: SDASM Archives

Orbiting Laboratory

Medium-sized orbiting lab is this Manned Orbital Research Laboratory (MORL) developed for NASA’s Langley Lab by Douglas Missiles & Spacecraft Division. The lab which weighs about 35,000 pounds, could maintain 3 to 6 men in orbit for a year.

Orbiting Stations: Stopovers to Space Travel
Irwin Stambler
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1965

MORL at Astronautix

Image credit: Douglas

Image source: SDASM Archives