posted 02-08-2009 10:58 AM               

But before that ATM, was there was this:

This concept, proposed by Ball Brothers Research Corporation (later Ball Aerospace), is described in a final report prepared in April 1966 after seven months of study, available from the NASA Technical Reports Server (via NSF).

The study concludes:

• Significant space science can be accomplished via the ATM system.

• The astronaut crew can be very effectively utilized in the acquisition of scientific data.

• The Apollo spacecraft presents no constraints precluding the successful accomplishment of an ATM mission and conversely an ATM mission can be accomplished without major changes in the Apollo spacecraft and mission.

• The ATM concept is readily adaptable to a variety of other vehicles and targets, both celestial and terrestrial.

• ATM can be designed using primarily state-of-the-art engineering with a minimum of new development.