Mid sixties, Manned Orbiting Laboratory concept painting. This shows an early configuration of the MOL. And it shows, incorrectly, the Gemini capsule popping off of the adapter section while the adapter section is still attached to the MOL. Since the Gemini’s de-orbit motors were contained within the adapter, this means the Gemini capsule would just simply slowly float away from the lab, probably re-entering in another few years, by which time it can be safely assumed that the two Gemini astronauts will be really sick of each other. Additionally, the adapter section shows no evidence of the pressurized tunnel the crew would use to access the lab from the capsule.
This artwork was probably produced for PR purposes rather than proposal work.
One Response to “MOL artwork from TRW, Inc.”
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That is a odd painting… not only does it show the Gemini separating from the lab minus its retro module, but also shows it with the stock equipment module attached to the retro module it as well… there was no need to carry that on MOL, as electrical power would come from the MOL module itself.
One thing it could show is preparing for reentry after retro engines on the MOL module itself had fired to bring it down in a controlled destructive reentry.
MOL probably had that ability to prevent a random reentry causing harm to people on the ground or prevent the Soviets getting their hands on some of its reconnaissance equipment after the Gemini separated from it.
The retro module would be the stock Gemini one, kept as a means of allowing a high altitude abort by salvo firing all four retro engines simultaneously, as was going to be done on the Titan II Gemini launches if the need arose.