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  Chrysler’s 1971 space shuttle proposal

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Author Topic:   Chrysler’s 1971 space shuttle proposal
Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 44028
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-04-2020 05:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hazegrayart video
Chrysler Aerospace was already contracted for the Saturn I and IB first stage, so in 1971
they proposed an alternate shuttle program, the SERV and MURP.

The Single-stage Earth-orbital Reusable Vehicle (SERV) had:

  • a 53 metric ton payload in a 7m x 18m payload bay
  • 12 LH2/LOX aerospike engines were arranged around the rim of the base, covered by movable metal shields
  • jet engines, which were fired just prior to touchdown in order to slow the descent
MURP, the Manned Upper-stage Reusable Payload was based on the HL-10 lifting body (Six Million Dollar Man test Vehicle). A larger version (the D-34) could carry up to ten passengers.

oly
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Posts: 1055
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015

posted 06-04-2020 07:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
An interesting idea.

Headshot
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Posts: 920
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 06-08-2020 10:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Headshot   Click Here to Email Headshot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for that video.

I had seen still pictures of this concept in old issues of Aviation Week and could not determine how the thing worked. None of the captions mentioned engines around the circumference of that huge base. Interesting concept, but aesthetically jarring.

Fra Mauro
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Posts: 1651
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 06-08-2020 06:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fra Mauro   Click Here to Email Fra Mauro     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I wonder what the development cost was compared to the shuttle. Where it would be built would have been a political factor, California would be a plus for Nixon.

All times are CT (US)

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