The shuttle supporters answered that given enough launches, a reusable system would have lower overall costs than disposable rockets. A related concept was servicing the space station using the Air Force Titan III-M to launch a larger Gemini capsule, called " Big Gemini”, or a smaller “glider” version of the shuttle with no main engines and a 15 ft × 30 ft (4.6 m × 9.1 m) payload bay. In addition, there were concurrent discussions about how much funding would be available to develop the program.Īnother competing approach was maintaining the Saturn V production line and using its large payload capacity to launch a space station in a few payloads rather than many smaller shuttle payloads. Both booster and orbiter would have rocket engines plus jet engines for use within the atmosphere, plus separate fuel and control systems for each propulsion mode. ![]() In space and aviation systems, the cost is closely related to mass, so this meant the overall vehicle cost would be very high. However, further studies showed a huge booster was needed to lift an orbiter with the desired payload capability. The idea was that full reusability would promote lower operating costs. After completing its mission, the winged orbiter would re-enter and land horizontally on a runway. The booster would return and land horizontally, while the orbiter continued into low Earth orbit. The booster vehicle would lift the orbiter to a certain altitude and speed, then separate. This involved a very large winged manned booster which would carry a smaller winged manned orbiter. Initially, a fully reusable design was preferred. Maxime Faget's DC-3 concept employed conventional straight wings.ĭuring the early shuttle studies, there was a debate over the optimal shuttle design that best-balanced capability, development cost, and operational cost. NASA chose to develop the Space Shuttle program first, and then planned to use the shuttle in order to construct and service a space station. Funding restrictions precluded pursuing the development of both programs simultaneously, however. This program mainly consisted of the construction of a space station, along with the development of a Space Shuttle. A low Earth orbital infrastructure programīased on the advice of the Space Council, President Nixon made the decision to pursue the low Earth orbital infrastructure option.The Council considered four major options: The recommendations of the Council would heavily influence the decisions of the administration. In 1969, United States Vice President Spiro Agnew chaired the National Aeronautics and Space Council, which discussed post- Apollo options for human space activities. With the Air Force's assistance, the system emerged in its operational form. To lower the development costs of the resulting designs, boosters were added, a throw-away fuel tank was adopted, and many other changes were made that greatly lowered the reusability and greatly added to the vehicle and operational costs. The Air Force was mildly interested but demanded a much larger vehicle, far larger than the original concepts, which NASA accepted since it was also beneficial to their own plans. This led to an effort to interest the US Air Force in using the shuttle for their missions as well. When funding for the program came into question, there were concerns that the project might be canceled. By 1970 the shuttle had been selected as the one major project for the short-term post-Apollo time frame. The shuttle project rose to the top, largely due to tireless campaigning by its supporters. Three were eventually presented to Vice President Agnew in 1969. ![]() As each of these projects fought for funding, the NASA budget was at the same time being severely constrained. Numerous offerings from a variety of commercial companies were also offered but generally fell by the wayside as each NASA lab pushed for its own version.Īll of this was taking place in the midst of other NASA teams proposing a wide variety of post-Apollo missions, a number of which would cost as much as Apollo or more. An attempt to re-simplify was made in the form of the DC-3, designed by Maxime Faget, who had designed the Mercury capsule among other vehicles. This was a two-stage system with delta-winged spacecraft, and generally complex. One was designed by engineers at the Manned Spaceflight Center, and championed especially by George Mueller. The primary intended use of the Space Shuttle was supporting the future space station, ferrying a minimum crew of four and about 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) of cargo, and able to be rapidly turned around for future flights. The early studies were denoted "Phase A", and in June 1970, "Phase B", which were more detailed and specific. Before the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969, NASA began studies of Space Shuttle designs as early as October 1968.
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