Image credit: Grumman
File source: NASA NTRS
518 Flyback Booster
Tag: reusable launcher
518 Structural Arrangement
Image credit: Grumman
File source: NASA NTRS
Design 532
Image credit: Grumman
File source: NASA NTRS
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
Saturn Recovery System
46905799
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: SDASM Archives
Pegasus
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: SDASM Archives
Recoverable Atlas Booster
Image credit: Convair
Image source: SDASM Archives
XB-70 Applications
Image credit: North American Aviation
Image source: AFMC
Agena Launcher
Image credit: North American Aviation
Image source: AFMC
Four Space-Shuttle Concepts
Here are examples of tentative designs for a space shuttle, made public by members of the four industrial teams competing in the project:
- McDonnell Douglas/Marietta
- Boeing/Lockheed
- North American/General Dynamics
- Grumman Aerospace
Each of pictured space-shuttle versions is a composite craft consisting of two stages, a booster and an orbiter, and is launched vertically like a space rocket, as shown. It’s two stages separate in space, and both return to earth for re-use.
Image credit: Robert McCall
Text and Images: Popular Science
