Image credit: Douglas
Image source: SDASM Archives
Tag: ROMBUS
Ponce de León
All-Purpose Space Vehicle
- All-purpose space vehicle proposed by Douglas Missile & Space Systems Division engineer Phil Bono, is pictured in artist’s concept during refueling in earth orbit prior to flight to the moon.
- Refueling tankers, on either side will return to earth. Vehicle carries up to eight “strap-on” liquid hydrogen tanks, which can be ejected after they are emptied or retained for use on moon. Retro engines are fire as spacecraft nears lunar surface to allow a direct landing without an orbital maneuver. All-purpose space vehicle proposed by Douglas Missile & Space Systems Division engineer Phil Bono, is pictured in artist’s concept during refueling in earth orbit prior to flight to the moon.
- Empty strap-on tanks are lowered to lunar surface before each return flight.
- These liquid hydrogen tanks could be used as shelter for pioneering lunar colony.
Space World
December 1964, VOL. A-14
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: Numbers Station
Ithacus B&W Plates
Ithacus Explained
- Ithacus troop transport launched from a nuclear carrier;
- Troops disembark from Ithacus rocket at their destination halfway across the world;
- After transfer from the interior, empty vehicle is taken by barge to a convenient coastal spaceport for reconditioning and relaunch.
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: SDASM Archives
Inside Deimos
ROMBUS
Configuration for a manned Mars mission (Project Deimos).
- Six man Mars landing capsule;
- Pressurized tunnel;
- Toroidal living compartment;
- Liquid hydrogen tanks (8);
- Spherical liquid oxygen tank
- Booster centerbody.
Project Deimos – Mars Landing Module
- Earth-return capsule;
- Command centre and pressurized tunnel;
- Separation joint, for return to Mars orbit;
- Mars landing propellant tanks(6);
- Ground access hatch;
- Mars-launch platform;
- Payload and power supply equipment compartment;
- Mars-launch propellant tank;
- Landing and take-off rocket motor;
- Jettisonable closure panel;
- Mars-entry heat shield;
- Extensible landing gear(4);
- Altitude-control system quads (4).
Frontiers of Space
Philip Bono & Kenneth Gatland
Macmillan, 1969
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: Numbers Station
Pegasus Cutaway & Plan
Pegasus Intercontinental Passenger Rocket
- Forward pressure dome;
- Two-man crew compartment;
- Re-entry stabilization fines (2);
- Cargo compartment;
- Aft pressure dome;
- Pressurized cabin for passengers (170);
- Deck structure (4) with passenger couches (43 each).
Pegasus during atmospheric re-entry uses the LH2-cooled plug nozzle as a heat shield. The ballistic transport would convey 172 passengers and freight 7,456 miles (12,000 km.) in 39 min. without exceeding an acceleration of 3g during ascent or re-entry. At the arrival spaceport it would hover on rocket thrust during a soft landing in the vertical attitude.
Pegasus Passenger Compartment
- Four-level passenger access doors (3);
- Stairways (2) connecting four passenger decks;
- Double-wall acoustic damping structure;
- Luggage racks (9);
- Re-entry stabilization fins (2).
Frontiers of Space
Philip Bono & Kenneth Gatland
Macmillan, 1969
Image credit: Douglas / Blandford Press
Image source(s):
Selena Storyboard
How re-usable ROMBUS-type launch vehicles can be applied to construction of a temporary lunar base (Project Selena).
- Vehicle en route for the Moon is refuelled in Earth Orbit;
- Soft-lands on the Moon with lunar base components;
- Pressurized moon-tractor hauls hydrogen tanks adapted for human habitation to assembly site;
- The lunar base is ready for occupation.
Frontiers of Space is peppered with artwork from Douglas, including paintings by Don Charles and James Finnell. In the book, this section was illustrated with (pretty poor) knock-offs. Why? Who knows? These were the masters.
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: SDASM Archives
Deimos Storyboard
Mission to Mars (Project Deimos)
- Hydrogen tanks jettison as ROMBUS spaceship accelerates from Earth-orbit;
- Two hydrogen tanks jettison after retro-thrust into Mars orbit. Mars Landing Module separates from ROMBUS parent above the cratered deserts;
- After soft-landing, astronauts begin exploration setting out research equipment and taking meteorological soundings;
- Ascent stage of Mars Landing Module returns astronauts to ROMBUS parent in Martian orbit for return to Earth.
Frontiers of Space
Philip Bono & Kenneth Gatland
Macmillan, 1969
Image credit: Douglas
Image source: SDASM Archives
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