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Author
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Topic: Earliest NASA space shuttle publication
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-28-2010 06:37 PM
   
I recently across a NASA quarterfold titled "Space Shuttle" that was produced by the U.S. Government Printing Office in 1972. It outlines the four main reasons why the space shuttle is important and quotes President Nixon's remarks delivered on January 5, 1972.Finding the brochure got me to thinking, what was the earliest NASA publication dedicated to the subject of the space shuttle? By publication, I mean a document intended for distribution (like the quarterfold) rather than internal reports. |
Boggs SpaceBooks
Member Posts: 113
From: Anderson, Indiana
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 08-06-2010 04:41 PM
Great question.We note that the JSC Film Catalog lists a film called "1985" (JSC-576), released in 1972 on the Space Shuttle and Space Station(!). I don't think that the familiar design of the shuttle orbiter emerged until Vehicle 1 or 2 of the Authority to Proceed in March of 1972. A keen observer can easily see changes through Vehicle 6. OV-101 (Enterprise) started construction in June 1974. That's when you begin seeing many NASA publications. ------------------
Donald & Tamara Boggs
Boggs SpaceBooks
http://boggsspace.com |
heng44
Member Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 08-07-2010 06:20 AM
The oldest NASA brochure I could find is EP-96 'Space Shuttle', dated June 1972. It consists of 12 pages of Robert McCall illustrations, depicting a Shuttle mission profile. |
Dwight
Member Posts: 576
From: Germany
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 08-07-2010 07:40 AM
A document I have titled "Shuttle Ground Testing Proposed TV [Thermal Vacuum] Test Program at SETD" dated November 24, 1971 features cross-section diagrams of the orbiter which very closely resembles the finished design. The notable differences are the more streamlined nose section and a slightly different wing shape. |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-08-2010 12:00 PM
Yes I've also got the EP-96 book. I've also got a colour wall poster (NF44/7-72) 1972 which was issued by the US Government Printing Office at 25 cents! Those were the days. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-31-2010 04:26 AM
Here's an early Orbiter concept. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 09-02-2010 10:59 AM
NASA SP-407 was published in 1976 and a 2nd edition appeared in 1981. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2913
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-09-2010 09:11 AM
I am still checking thru all my early shuttle files and folders...One of the earliest that I have is a NASA-published booklet in either 1969-70, "Space Station: Key to the Future." There are several pages devoted to a "Space Transportation System" that outlines the need for a "Space Shuttle" round-trip transportation system between Earth and low-Earth orbit. Further along in the booklet are a couple of pages discussing other space shuttle proposals, such as a reusable Tandem and Triamese concepts. In the same issued time period, I was able to locate a non-NASA booklet produced by North American Rockwell outlining a future proposed space shuttle program beyond Apollo as a next major step for the nation's space agency. I know there are others, perhaps even within NASA, that I'll report on as they are located. |
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