Jul 302008
A very early ’60s concept from United Tech showing an Apollo astronaut using a hybrid rocket “jetpack” to ascend a lunar cliff face. The lander in the background was another UTC concept, also using a hybrid rocket for main propulsion. At the time, UTC was really pushing the hybrid rocket concept.
What exactly the astronaut is supposed to be breathing is left to the imagination.
3 Responses to “United Tech rocket pack”
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Presumably the oxidizer is oxygen…?
I like where they put the lander down at; atop one of those lunar buttes.
Hard to explain those being there without rain. 🙂
Two thoughts about the jet pack itself:
1.) The exhaust nozzles look awfully low down for it to be stable. They seem to be pushing the astronaut skywards rather than pulling him up like the Bell rocket pack. Most of his mass is above the nozzles, and that’s not good for stability. He also seem to lack any way to control the belt’s thrust, unless there is a control of some sort in his hidden hand.
But no controls are visible on his friend’s jet pack either. At least both have their lunch boxes with them, so they can just open their helmet visors and snarf down…wait a minute.
Maybe they are supposed to be Geiger counters.
2.) I think his lower legs are going to get rather warm with the exhaust nozzles that close to them.
[…] to the earlier astronaut rocket pack, United Tech also produced artwork for a virtually identical appearing pack for soldiers. Because, […]