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Author
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Topic: 1970 NASA concept: Saturn V with orbiter
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randyc
Member Posts: 779
From: Chandler, AZ USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 01-07-2012 09:20 PM
   
Check out this official NASA photo [via eBay] from 1970 of a space shuttle concept using the first stage of a Saturn V to help boost the shuttle to orbit.  Although I've seen several 'exotic' concepts, including a manned fly-back booster, I've never seen this one. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 01-08-2012 06:16 AM
Saw that one. The eBay ad says it was taken by an official NASA photographer. Since it was a dark room creation (this is WAY before Photoshop), I wonder if it was a NASA concept or that of the photographic team. Either way I plan on keeping an eye on the auction. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 01-08-2012 07:51 AM
Fred, I would not expect the Karst range to be satisfied with a mere photo. Surely you have a source for an S1-C and a shop to build the orbiter? I look forward to touring the full scale model in February. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 01-08-2012 09:03 AM
A grand idea at that.  |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 01-09-2012 07:46 AM
Mmmm, I don't know if it would make it to orbit like that. All I see is the S-1C first stage. I figure to give the thing enough Delta-v before the orbiter's engines fire, it would at least need an S-II stage as well (and I have seen concepts for that). The folding wings are also interesting (how would the hinge mechanisms survive reentry?). I don't know, something tells me this might not be a fully fleshed out concept, but maybe a photography experiment. |
rasorenson
Member Posts: 96
From: Santa Clara, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 01-09-2012 10:06 AM
This is not an authentic photo. A concept shuttle such as this was never transported to Pad 39. August 1970 was four months after Apollo 13. I assure you, there were no concept projects rolling out of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The S-1C stage and tower appear to be a photo, the rest is superimposed. In the very very early days of shuttle ideas, there were a few concept drawings of a shuttle attached to an S-II stage, but they were ONLY drawings. This never happened. It would have been on the front page of every newspaper in the country. There's a reason you haven't seen this till now. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-09-2012 10:18 AM
I don't think anyone has mistaken this for a real photo, but rather a darkroom creation — a composite of artwork and a photo. For what it is worth, the eBay auction identifies the NASA Photo ID as 108-KSC-70PC-440 and describes it as "Saturn V First Stage Booster with Orbital Configuration on Top." |
kr4mula
Member Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 01-09-2012 11:26 AM
I have a NASA photo (S-71-40393) that depicts two side-by-side models, one of which is a delta-winged Grumman orbiter atop what looks very much like the Saturn V first stage. Not as cool as your photo montage, though. Other photos of that era depict an orbiter piggy-backed onto at least a 2-stage Saturn V. I'm sure their thinking was much the same as it was recently: reuse legacy hardware/designs to minimize development costs. |
MattJL
Member Posts: 57
From: New Jersey, US
Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-05-2012 11:42 PM
I recall reading that one of the proposals for the space shuttle back in the seventies was to use a S-IC stage as a booster for the orbiter. I also recall seeing a reusable S-IC concept somewhere on this site.Did anyone in the NASA hierarchy consider combining the two to produce a completely reusable shuttle (and LV)? Or would it have been too expensive? If anyone could shed some light on this, it would be much appreciated. Editor's note: Threads merged. |
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