Both were designed to carry internal turbo-fan engines which would produce controlled flight during landing operations. In this two-stage concept, both the Booster and Orbiter would require cockpits, hardware and instrumentation to facilitate landings. The Booster would, in essence, be a fuel tank with wings. The Orbiter would return for a landing upon the conclusion of its space mission. After separation, the Booster would turn and descend through the atmosphere for a landing near the launch site. The Orbiter would then separate and fire its own engines to reach orbit. The Booster would carry the Orbiter to an altitude of about 50 miles. The larger winged vehicle would be called the “Booster”, while the smaller winged vehicle would be called the “Orbiter”. These would be pad-launched from a vertical position. In basic terms, the initial NASA concept for the two-stage Space Shuttle called for a smaller manned winged vehicle to sit atop a larger manned winged vehicle. To analyze these concerns, NASA issued study contracts to Grumman/Boeing, Lockheed and Chrysler in June, 1971. At first, doubts surfaced about the feasibility of developing a two-stage Space Shuttle. From that point on, development of the Space Shuttle became extremely complicated, with the future of the vehicle often in doubt from one year to the next. In 1971, North American Rockwell and McDonnell Douglas were granted production contracts. With great optimism, NASA initially expected that the first Space Shuttle would enter service by 1977. Space Shuttle Concepts, Photo Courtesy NASA The name “Space Shuttle” subsequently became a permanent fixture for the vehicle, which NASA agreed should incorporate a fully re-usable, two-stage design. The name “Space Shuttle” first appeared in the “purpose” section of an official invitation for production contract bids issued on February 18, 1970.
Early in 1970, NASA refined their technical requirements for the vehicle. They unanimously recommended a fully re-usable, two-stage vehicle. These companies presented reports to NASA by November 1, 1969. Invitations were given to four aerospace contractors to present design proposals on re-usable and partially re-usable manned spacecraft. On January 31, 1969, NASA issued feasibility design study contracts for their “Integrated Launch and Re-entry Vehicle” (ILRV).
Of course, history would prove otherwise. The words “cheap” and “routine” were the words which most closely matched the objectives for Space Shuttles as expressed by NASA. In addition, NASA believed that Space Shuttles could serve as multi-purpose satellite delivery vehicles with the potential to completely replace Atlas-Centaur, Delta and Titan rockets.
#Detailed space shuttle cockpit photos plus
The space station would support a plethora of scientific research objectives, plus act as an engineering and support base for manned journeys to the planets. presence in space following the Apollo lunar landings. The space station was intended to assure a permanent manned U.S. At the time, NASA envisioned a space station which would be staffed by 12 to 24 people. The first goal of the Space Shuttle program was to provide NASA with an efficient, re-usable method of carrying astronauts to and from a permanently manned space station. Space Shuttle Artist Conception, Photo Courtesy NASAīorn in 1968 at the height of the Apollo program, the Space Shuttle was designed to fulfill two basic roles in NASA post-Apollo manned flight objectives. By Cliff Lethbridge SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM HISTORY
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