Image credit: USAF
Image source: AFMC
Tag: reusable spacecraft
AMSC
Image credit: USAF
Image source: AFMC
Space Delivery
Space delivery – The partnership of the space ferry and the manned laboratory is demonstrated in this sketch. Here astronauts in a Douglas Astro ferry approach a huge space station with fresh supplies of food and test equipment. Eventually, experimental orbiting stations may give way to orbiting terminals for space travelers of the future.
Orbiting Stations: Stopovers to Space Travel
Irwin Stambler
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1965
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: Numbers Station
Space-Age Station
A spaceport and supply rocket designed by the Martin Marietta Corporation in mid-air in this scene from the Hall of Science space show. In such a port, astronauts may orbit for half a year.
New York World’s Fair 1964/1965
Official Souvenir Book
Time Life, 1964
Image credit: Martin Marietta
Image source: Numbers Station
Ferry Rocket Vehicle
Image credit: Goodyear Aerospace
Image source: AFMC
Cover Art
Orbiting Stations: Stopovers to Space Travel
Irwin Stambler
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1965
Image credit: Martin Marietta
Image source: Numbers Station
Assembling Spaceball
Huge space ferries are used by astronauts to perform the final assembly of the huge Spaceball orbiting station.
Orbiting Stations: Stopovers to Space Travel
Irwin Stambler
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1965
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: Numbers Station
Dyna-Soar On A Leash
This drawing from the magazine Air Force and Space Digest shows a proposed NASA “ONE-STAGE-TO-ORBIT” aerospace plane. The craft would be able to take off from a regular airport using turbojet engines, then switch to ramjet propulsion at supersonic speed. To reach orbital speed in space, the aerospace plane would use a third set of engines using rocket propulsion.
In the drawing (above) the combination turbo-ramjet engines are housed in pods, just inside the vertical tailfins (on either side). The huge scoop atop the rear half of the fuselage contains the rocket engines and a novel collection and compression unit for gathering oxygen to burn in the rockets. The other propellant would be liquid oxygen carried in the craft’s tanks.
After it’s orbital mission, the aerospace plane would be able to reenter the atmosphere and land as a conventional aircraft at an airfield. The craft would be about 90 feet long and weigh some 100,000 pounds.
CREDIT LINE (UPI PHOTO) 7-21-62 (ML)
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL ROTO SERVICE
Image credit: USAF
Image source: Numbers Station
The Space Shuttle
PEP
Construction In Space
255-GRC-1980-01085
Image credit: Boeing
Image source: National Archives
