Jul 102018
Jun 302018
In just under the wire for June, 2018 are the rewards for APR Patreon patrons. Included this month:
- A sizable January, 1945 technical description of the YP-80 “Shooting Star” by Lockheed. 300 or so pages, filled with illustrations of the aircraft and components.
- “On The Utility of the Moon in Space Transportation: the Lunatron Concept.” A 1963 NASA concept for using an electromagnetic accelerator to hurl payloads from the lunar surface onto high energy trajectories, up to solar system escape.
- A scan of a large-format Sikorsky lithograph of an ABC (advancing blade concept) VTOL airliner (basically a 727 fuselage turned into a high-speed helicopter).
- An all-new CAD diagram of the Soviet Chelomei LKS spaceplane with an inboard profile showing the military (nuclear bombardment) payload. The first in a series on the LKS.
If you are interested in helping to preserve (and get copies of) this sort of thing, consider signing up for the APR Patreon.
Jun 202018
First draft of diagrams for the next issue of US Launcher Projects. This will include concepts such as an eight-F-1 Nova, a 1962 Lockheed fully reusable spaceplane launcher, a Boeing HTOHL SSTO, a Convair VTOHL Delta Clipper competitor, a giant SPS launcher, a balloon-recovered Saturn I, an early Space Shuttle concept and an expendable SSTO.
Jun 192018
The first Aerojet-Rocketdyne AR-22 rocket engine has recently been assembled. This is a somewhat modified version of the old Space Shuttle Main Engine, meant specifically to power the first stage of the Boeing “Phantom Express” spaceplane. Thrust is 375,000 pounds and the engine is meant to be used 55 times, with servicing every 10 missions.
First Engine Assembled for DARPA and Boeing Reusable Experimental Spaceplane
The Phantom Express is meant to fly often and inexpensively… and appears to be basically an updated version of the mid-90’s Rockwell design for the X-33. It’s not clear to me that a hydrogen-burner using SSME-derived tech can compete economically with the likes of the Falcon 9, but the Phantom Express isn’t really intended to compete in the commercial market. Instead, the Phantom Express is intended as military launch system, lobbing relatively small satellites – communications and recon, with the possibility of GPS-replacements in the event that military action takes them out. Given that any future war with a major opponent will certainly involve attacks on American space infrastructure, it’s reasonable for DARPA to want to have as many rapid response launch systems as practical. The basic concept underlying the Phantom Express is simple and straightforward enough, and likely to be somewhat more rugged and reliable than the hoverslam landing system of the Falcon series… at the cost of probably weighing more.
Jun 102018
A Boeing illustration from 1964 showing a number of designs for lifting entry vehicles that Boeing had produced by that point. Most of these are manned vehicle concepts; a few of them are unfamiliar to me. The “B-3 —– B” looks like it might have been an ASSET competitor. The “Recoverable Booster” at top is one of several similar V-shaped designs that used a modestly modified Dyna Soar as the crew capsule up front. One such design was the Model 895 shown (along with competing ASP designs from other firms) in Aerospace Projects Review issue V2N5.
May 282018
A piece of 1960’s aerospace concept art depicting a sizable (50 to 100 crew) space station equipped with three modules at the ends of arms, intended for artificial gravity via centrifugal force. Presumably the conical structural at the left would contain the nuclear reactor, shielding and radiations; presumably the modules on the hub at the far left would be non-rotating to aid spacecraft docking. Unclear what the source is… but I’d bet on either North American Aviation or Lockheed.
I have uploaded righ-rez scans of both sides of this B&W photo glossy to the 2018-05 APR Extras folder on Dropbox for APR Patrons at the $4 level and up. If you are interested in these images and a great many other “extras” and monthly aerospace history rewards, please sign up for the APR Patreon. What else are you going to spend $4 a month on?
May 182018
In the 1960’s, prior to the Space Shuttle program, General Dynamics/Convair studied using the Atlas ICBM as a space launch system. no surprise there. But one concept called for a nearly fully reusable Atlas, equipped with wings, jet engines, landing gear and a cockpit to recover the booster in one reusable piece. It would be topped with either an expendable Centaur and satellite/space probe upper stage or a smallish manned lifting body spaceplane with its own built-in propulsive capability. At the time General Dynamics released sizable “educational” cards with information and photos of models of the reusable Atlas. Unlike the normal Atlas, this version did not drop the outboard “booster’ engines, but kept them throughout the mission. An inflatable, deployable afterbody was proposed to fair over the engines after burnout to reduce base drag.
I have uploaded righ-rez scans of both sides of this poster-sized card to the 2018-05 APR Extras folder on Dropbox for APR Patrons at the $4 level and up.
Additionally, a report on this concept is available as Space Doc 52.
If you are interested in these Reusable Atlas model images and a great many other “extras” and monthly aerospace history rewards, please sign up for the APR Patreon. What else are you going to spend $4 a month on?
May 102018
The Convair VL-3A was a 1966 concept for a space station logistics spacecraft. It was a sleek, flat-bottomed lifting body featuring a twin tail and flip-out wings that would deploy shortly before landing to reduce the landing speed. It would be fitted with flip-out turbofan engines for range extension, self-ferry and control during landing. General Dynamics released sizable “educational” cards with information and photos of models of the spaceplane showing how the wings would deploy from within the lower fuselage.
I have uploaded righ-rez scans of both sides of this poster-sized card to the 2018-05 APR Extras folder on Dropbox for APR Patrons at the $4 level and up.
I also wrote about and illustrated the VL-3A in US Spacecraft Projects #2, showing the general arrangement of the design along with the disposable propulsion stage and the launch configuration atop the Titan III.
USSP #02 can be downloaded as a PDF file for only $6:
If you are interested in thes VL-3A model images and a great many other “extras” and monthly aerospace history rewards, please sign up for the APR Patreon. What else are you going to spend $4 a month on?
Apr 262018
US Bomber Projects #21 and Spacecraft Projects #05 are now available.
US Bomber Projects #21
Cover art was provided by Rob Parthoens, www.baroba.be
US Bomber Projects #21 is now available (see HERE for the entire series). Issue #21 includes:
- Convair Submersible Nuclear Ramjet: a Mach 4 manned nuclear powered flying submarine
- Bell MX-776: an early post-war pilotless airplane
- Convair Manned Flyback Atlas: an unconventional recoverable ICBM
- DTNSRDC PAR-WIG Strategic Deterrent: a low-flying aircraft packing 4 Trident ballistic missiles
- Boeing Model 464-197: a supersonic B-52
- Martin Model 151-K: a pre-war twin-engined medium bomber
- Boeing Cruise Ballistic Missile: an entire aircraft packed into a silo, carrying an ICBM
- MC-747 Air Mobile System: a 1973 concept for carrying up to seven ICBMs in a modified cargo jet
USBP #21 can be downloaded as a PDF file for only $4.25:
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US Spacecraft Projects #5
US Spacecraft Projects #05 is now available (see HERE for the entire series). Issue #05 includes:
- Project HORIZON Lunar Lander: a late 1950’s US Army concept for a manned Lunar lander
- Lockheed-Martin Mars Ascent/Descent Vehicle: A very recent concept for a future manned Mars vehicle
- JPL Interstellar Precursor: a 970’s design for a space probe to interstellar space
- Lockheed Modular Rotating Space Station: a truly gigantic design circa 1970
- Lockheed Payload Carrier: an early 1960’s spaceplane for space station logistics
- Martin-Marietta Winged NIMF: a nuclear powered “hopper”
- Lockheed CL-414: a capsule for Man in Space Soonest
- NASA HAVOC: High Altitude Venus Operational Concept, a 2015 project for manned exploration of the atmosphere of Venus
USSP #05 can be downloaded as a PDF file for only $5.25:
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The previous releases of US Aerospace Projects:
US VTOL Projects #2
- SOS Interceptor: A US Navy Mach 3 aircraft with jettisonable wings
- Lockheed GL-224-3: A small battlefield surveillance and ground attack plane
- Phalanx Dragon MP-18: An unconventional small civilian transport
- Lockheed L-161-1: An early concept for a variable geometry roadable helicopter
- GE Supersonic V/STOL: A supersonic strike fighter with flip-out lift fans
- Convair ANP-VTOL: A nuclear-powered ground-effect craft of the Navy of unusual configuration
- Piasecki 16H-3: A compound helicopter for high speed passenger transport
- Boeing Vertol Model 147: A tilt-wing close support fire support design for the US Army
USVP #2 can be downloaded as a PDF file for only $4.25:
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US Research & Recon Projects #2
- Lockheed A-1: The first true design leading to the SR-71
- Bell MX-2147 Model 105: The high altitude “X-16”
- Boeing/CRC/AMROC X-34 Reference Configuration: A reusable launcher test vehicle
- Martin Model 159: A scout/observation float plane
- NASA-Langley Low-Boom Demonstrator: a recent design to demonstrate quiet SST tech
- McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 Super 80 Propfan Configuration 1: A fuel efficient transport demo
- Convair “HAZEL” MC-10: An inflatable Mach 3 plane for the Navy
- Republic Manned Hypersonic Reconnaissance Vehicle: an early scramjet concept
USRP #2 can be downloaded as a PDF file for only $4.25:
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Mar 292018
Here are two presumably wholly unrelated pieces of aerospace artwork. At least I *hope* they’re unrelated…
The first is an anonymous painting of a spaceplane. Doesn’t seem terribly realistic; most likely done for advertising purposes (I wonder if the “7-11” might indicate a relationship to the chain of the same name). The print arrived damaged, as you an see; the paper was thick and *really* brittle and really didn’t appreciate being rolled up. If anyone knows anything about it, feel free to comment.
The second is concept art from Bell Aerospace illustrating an amphibious troop carrier for the Marine Corps. The design of the assault vehicle is fairly ordinary as such things go, except for one detail: it could turn into a hovercraft and float across the surface of the water, rather than plowing through it. No further details provided, so I don’t know if the hover-skirts were deployable and retractable, or if they were simply dropped when the vehicle got to shore. The latter would certainly seem more economical.
I’ve uploaded the full rez scans to the 2018-03 APR Extras Dropbox folder, available to all current APR Patrons at the $4 level and above. If you are interested in this and a great many other “extras” and monthly aerospace history rewards, please sign up for the APR Patreon. Chances are good that $4/month is far cheaper than your espresso/booze budget!