Jun 232008
More of the unconventional Boeing spaceplane and launch vehicle designs from ’66.
More to come.
4 Responses to “Rockets Of Unusual Shape: Part 2”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
More of the unconventional Boeing spaceplane and launch vehicle designs from ’66.
More to come.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Unusual is the word!
Pics 1 & 2. Apart from the 60-70’s swing-wings, I’m assuming the Vee shape of the booster is an attempt to simplify orbiter separation problems.
Pics 3 & 4. Let’s see if I can get this straight – booster launches orbiter and self into orbit. Next, orbiter retrieves booster main engine for return to Earth? Total useful payload to orbit – Zero???
“Total useful payload to orbit – Zero???”
Not quite. If you look at “image 17,” you can see that the forward portion of the spaceplane is being tilted down, exposing a payload of some kind. The payload volume then gets filled with rocket engine. So you’d get the rocket-engine-sized payload plus the crew as your delivered payload.
Probably not a spectacular performer, but an interesting notion.
Ah, missed that.
Wouldn’t want to do the docking with the engine/rear spaceplane fuselage myself 😉
Cheers for the pics.
The images are gone